Lateral pterygoid nerve | |
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Details | |
From | Anterior division of mandibular nerve |
Innervates | Lateral pterygoid muscle |
Identifiers | |
Latin | nervus pterygoideus externus nervus pterygoideus lateralis |
TA98 | A14.2.01.072 |
TA2 | 6257 |
FMA | 53107 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
The lateral pterygoid nerve (or external pterygoid nerve) is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve.[1] It usually originates as two separate branches that travel near the buccal nerve, and enter the deep surfaces of the superior and inferior heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.[2]