Structure and Origin
- The mylohyoid nerve is a mixed (motor-sensory) branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.
- It arises just before it enters the mandibular foramen.
- The mylohyoid nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve, which is itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve.
- The mylohyoid nerve is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve.
- The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V).
- The mandibular nerve is a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V).
- The mylohyoid nerve arises just before it enters the mandibular foramen.
Course
- The mylohyoid nerve pierces the sphenomandibular ligament.
- It descends in a groove on the deep surface of the ramus of the mandible.
- When it reaches the under surface of the mylohyoid muscle, it gives branches to the mylohyoid muscle and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.
Motor Distribution
- The mylohyoid nerve supplies the mylohyoid muscle.
- It supplies the anterior belly of the digastric muscle.
Sensory Distribution
- The mylohyoid nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the centre of the submental area.
- It may also provide some sensory innervation to the mandibular (lower) molar teeth.
Clinical Significance
- The mylohyoid nerve needs to be blocked during local anesthesia of the mandibular (lower) teeth to prevent pain during oral procedures.
- It may not be anesthetized during a block of the inferior alveolar nerve, causing pain.
The mylohyoid nerve (or nerve to mylohyoid) is a mixed nerve of the head. It is a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. It provides motor innervation the mylohyoid muscle, and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle. It provides sensory innervation to part of the submental area, and sometimes also the mandibular (lower) molar teeth, requiring local anaesthesia for some oral procedures.
| Mylohyoid nerve | |
|---|---|
 Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. (Label for mylohyoid nerve is at bottom center.) | |
 Mandibular division of trifacial nerve, seen from the middle line. The small figure is an enlarged view of the otic ganglion. (Label "to mylohyoid" at bottom left.) | |
| Details | |
| From | inferior alveolar nerve |
| Innervates | mylohyoid muscle, anterior belly of digastric muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus mylohyoideus |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.090 |
| TA2 | 6275 |
| FMA | 53247 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
