Abstract
The topography of the auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) root system is the main criterion of this nerve classification. Previous publications indicate that ATN may have between one and five roots. Most common is a one- or two-root variant of the nerve structure. The problem of many publications is the inconsistency of nomenclature which concerns the terms “roots”, “connecting branches”, or “branches” that are used to identify the same structures. This study was performed on 80 specimens (40 adults and 40 fetuses) to propose a classification based on: (i) the number of roots, (ii) way of root division, and (iii) configuration of interradicular fibers that form the ATN trunk. This new classification is a remedy for inconsistency of nomenclature of ATN in the infratemporal fossa. This classification system has proven beneficial when organizing all ATN variants described in previous studies and could become a helpful tool for surgeons and dentists. Examination of ATN from the infratemporal fossa of fetuses (the youngest was at 18 weeks gestational age) showed that, at that stage, the nerve is fully developed.
Highlights
The auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (MN), which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (TN) [1, 2]
During study of the way of root division, the second parameter under investigation, it was observed that approximately 50% of both adult and fetus specimens exhibited ATN roots that originated exclusively from mandibular nerve (MN) (19:40 and 22:40, respectively)
ATN roots originated from MN and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN)
Summary
The auriculotemporal nerve (ATN) is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve (MN), which is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve (TN) [1, 2]. Its branches innervate the temporal region, temporomandibular joint and the site of the auricle of the ear. ATN anatomy is commonly studied in the latter two locations [4,5,6,7,8] in contrast to a detailed ananlysis of the way of nerve root division and interradicular nerve connections in the infratemporal fossa region. The reason for this trend is the irregular shape of the cavity and limited access to ATN there. The nerve is laterally enclosed by the ramus of the mandible, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0123120 April 9, 2015
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