lingual nerve

Origin

• mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CN V-3)

Innervation

• anterior 2/3 of the tongue
• mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth

Course

• passes medial to the lateral pterygoid muscle, between the medial pterygoid muscle & the mandible, beneath the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth to the side of the tongue & over the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
• it passes close to the lingual side of the roots of the 2nd & 3rd molars

Clinical significance

• at risk during tooth extractions

More general terms

• peripheral nerve