Masseteric nerve

Masseteric nerve
Masseteric nerve
	Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (Masseteric visible near center.)
Details
From	Mandibular nerve
Innervates	Masseter muscle, temporomandibular joint
Identifiers
Latin	nervus massetericus
TA98	A14.2.01.070
TA2	6253
FMA	53103
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [ edit on Wikidata]

Last updated May 27, 2025

The masseteric nerve is a nerve of the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V₃). It passes through the mandibular notch to reach masseter muscle. It provides motor innervation the masseter muscle, and sensory innervation to the temporomandibular joint.

Structure

Origin

The masseteric nerve is a branch of (the anterior division of) the mandibular nerve (CN V₃) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).^[1]^[2]

Course

It passes laterally superior to the lateral pterygoid muscle, anterior to the temporomandibular joint, and posterior to the tendon of the temporalis muscle. It crosses (the posterior portion of) the mandibular notch alongside the masseteric artery before branching out upon the surface of the masseter muscle, then entering the muscle.^[2]

Distribution

The masseteric nerve provides motor innervation the masseter muscle. It additionally sends articular (sensory) branches to the temporomandibular joint.^[2]

Clinical significance

The masseteric nerve may be harvested and used to repair paralysis of the facial nerve (CN VII).^[3]^[4]

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 894 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

↑ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
1 2 3 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 680. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
↑ Brenner, Erich; Schoeller, Thomas (1998). "Masseteric nerve: A possible donor for facial nerve anastomosis?" . Clinical Anatomy. 11 (6): 396–400. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1998)11:6<396::AID-CA5>3.0.CO;2-8. ISSN 1098-2353. PMID 9800919. S2CID 10697813.
↑ Spira, M (1978-03-01). "Anastomosis of masseteric nerve to lower division of facial nerve for correction of lower facial paralysis. Preliminary report" . Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 61 (3): 330–334. doi:10.1097/00006534-197803000-00004. ISSN 1529-4242. PMID 625495. S2CID 42995889.

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[:022-1] Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.

[:224-2] 1 2 3 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. p. 680. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[:0-3] Brenner, Erich; Schoeller, Thomas (1998). "Masseteric nerve: A possible donor for facial nerve anastomosis?" . Clinical Anatomy. 11 (6): 396–400. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1098-2353(1998)11:6<396::AID-CA5>3.0.CO;2-8. ISSN 1098-2353. PMID 9800919. S2CID 10697813.

[4] Spira, M (1978-03-01). "Anastomosis of masseteric nerve to lower division of facial nerve for correction of lower facial paralysis. Preliminary report" . Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 61 (3): 330–334. doi:10.1097/00006534-197803000-00004. ISSN 1529-4242. PMID 625495. S2CID 42995889.

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