Divisio anterior nervi mandibularis

The mandibular nerve divides into a small anterior and large posterior trunk after passing between tensor veli palatini, which is medial, and lateral pterygoid, which is lateral, and giving off a meningeal branch (nervus spinosus) and the nerve to medial pterygoid from its medial side.

The anterior division gives off branches to three major muscles of mastication and a buccal branch which is sensory to the cheek:

• the nerve to medial pterygoid muscle,
• the nerve to tensor veli palatini,
• the nerve to tensor tympani,
• the masseteric nerve,
• the deep temporal nerves,
• the nerve to lateral pterygoid muscle,
• and the buccal nerve