Masseteric nerve

Nerve: Masseteric nerve
Mandibular division of the trifacial nerve. (Masseteric visible near center.)
Latin	nervus massetericus
Gray's	subject #200 894
Innervates	Masseter muscle, temporomandibular joint
From	mandibular nerve

The masseteric nerve passes laterally, above the Pterygoideus externus, in front of the temporomandibular articulation, and behind the tendon of the Temporalis; it crosses the mandibular notch with the masseteric artery, to the deep surface of the Masseter, in which it ramifies nearly as far as its anterior border.

It is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3).

It gives a filament to the temporomandibular joint.

See also

• masseteric artery

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.