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Structure and Origin
- The buccal nerve is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
- It is the only sensory branch of the anterior division.
- The buccal nerve originates from the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
- It is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve.
- The buccal nerve is the only sensory branch of the anterior division.
- It connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve on the surface of the buccinator muscle.
- The nerve gives off many significant branches.
Course and Relations
- The buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
- It passes underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle.
- The nerve courses deep to the masseter muscle.
- Finally, it travels anteroinferiorly upon the surface of the buccinator muscle.
- The buccal nerve pierces the buccinator muscle.
Distribution
- The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the cheek.
- It also innervates the buccal mucosa.
- The nerve supplies sensory innervation to the buccal periodontium.
- It innervates the gingiva of the mandibular/lower molar and second premolar teeth.
- The buccal nerve also issues proprioceptive fibers into the buccinator muscle.
Clinical significance
- Buccal nerve block (long buccal nerve block) is indicated for procedures involving the mucosa adjacent to the posterior molar teeth.
- The injection site for buccal nerve block is distal and buccal to the third molar.
- The needle penetrates 1-2mm as the nerve lies directly below the mucosa.
- A buccal nerve block is often performed after an inferior alveolar nerve block for specific procedures, such as extraction of mandibular molar teeth.
- The buccal nerve may be damaged by surgical incisions near the external oblique ridge of the mandible.
Notable Points
- The buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle and underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle.
- It courses deep to the masseter muscle and pierces the buccinator muscle.
- The buccal nerve connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve.
- It provides sensory innervation to the cheek, buccal mucosa, buccal periodontium, and gingiva of specific teeth.
- The buccal nerve is commonly blocked for dental procedures and may be at risk during surgical incisions near the external oblique ridge of the mandible.
The buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) is a sensory nerve of the face arising from the mandibular nerve (CN V3) (which is itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve). It conveys sensory information from the skin of the cheek, and parts of the oral mucosa, periodontium, and gingiva.
| 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 | |
| From | mandibular nerve |
| Innervates | lateral pterygoid muscle and cheek |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus buccalis |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.073 |
| TA2 | 6258 |
| FMA | 53066 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
