Posterior Division Of Mandibular Nerve Research Articles

Lingual Nerve Entrapment in Fused Submandibular and Sublingual Salivary Glands: A Unique Finding

Lingual nerve (LN) is one among the 3 branches of posterior division of mandibular nerve. It might get entrapped in the infratemporal fossa by lateral pterygoid muscle, pterygospinous ligament, or lateral pterygoid plate. Its entrapment in the submandibular region has not been reported yet. A unique entrapment of LN in the fused submandibular and sublingual salivary glands in a cadaver was reported. The deep parts of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands were completely fused with each other. The LN passed through the center of the fused part. Histologically both submandibular and sublingual salivary glands had both mucous and serous acini. Though this entrapment might not cause any functional problems, it might get injured during various surgical procedures of the submandibular region.

Unique variation in the course of maxillary artery in infratemporal fossa: a case report

Maxillary artery is one of the key contents of the infratemporal fossa. Mandibular nerve and its branches form a clinically important relation of maxillary artery in this region. A comprehensive knowledge of variations of maxillary artery in the fossa is of special relevance in oral maxillofacial surgeries, management of epistaxis, intractable neuralgias or headaches. We found a unique variation of maxillary artery, presenting bilaterally, in relation to branches of mandibular nerve. During routine dissection in a 55-year-old male cadaver, maxillary artery was seen passing deep to lateral pterygoid muscle and crossed through the nerve loop formed between two roots of auriculotemporal nerve and posterior division of mandibular nerve. Further course of maxillary artery was medial to the posterior division of mandibular nerve. Maxillary artery gave its middle meningeal artery branch as it traversed through the nerve loop. A tortuous course taken by maxillary artery can lead to its entrapment causing headaches or nerve irritation presenting with neuralgia.

Unusual Course of the Accessory Meningeal Artery

This case report describes a variation in the course of the accessory meningeal artery relative to the mandibular nerve in the infratemporal fossa. An accessory meningeal artery running superficially to the posterior division of mandibular nerve was found bilaterally in the cadaver of a 95-year-old male. It was observed by a topographic examination followed by a detailed dissection. The accessory meningeal artery arose from the middle meningeal artery. It then passed upward and coursed superficial to the posterior division of the mandibular nerve before its division into the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves. The accessory meningeal artery subsequently ran deep and rostral to the anterior and posterior divisions of the mandibular nerve, respectively, before entering the foramen ovale. The variation in the course of the accessory meningeal artery described herein should be helpful for surgeons in approaches to the foramen ovale region and infratemporal fossa.