Buccal nerve
| Buccal nerve | |
|---|---|
 Sensory areas of the head, showing the general distribution of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (buccal nerve labeled at center left) | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Latin | Nervus buccalis |
From | Mandibular nerve |
| Innervates | Lateral pterygoid muscle and cheek |
| Identifiers | |
| Gray's | p.895 |
| Dorlands /Elsevier | n_05/12565268 |
| TA | A14.2.01.073 |
| FMA | 53066 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) is a nerve in the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (which is itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve) and transmits sensory information from skin over the buccal membrane (in general, the cheek) and from the second and third molar teeth. Not to be confused with the buccal branch of the facial nerve which transmits motor information to the buccinator muscle.
Structure
It courses between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle, and then under the masseter muscle to connect with the buccal branches of the facial nerve on the surface of the buccinator muscle.
Function
Small branches of the buccal nerve innervate the lateral pterygoid muscle. It also gives sensory branches to the cheek.
Related nerves
The facial nerve (CN VII) also has buccal branches, which carry motor innervation to the buccinator muscle, a muscle of facial expression. This follows from the trigeminal (V3) supplying all muscles of mastication and the facial (VII) supplying all muscles of facial expression.
Additional images
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The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.
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Infaorbital and buccal nerve.Superficial dissection.Lateral view.
References
- "Nerve, buccal." Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. (2000). ISBN 0-683-40007-X
- Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (2005). ISBN 0-443-07168-3
External links
- Anatomy figure: 27:03-03 at Human Anatomy Online, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- MedEd at Loyola GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb3.htm
- lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (mandibularnerve)
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (V)
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