188 NERVOUS SYSTKM. 



the lower eyelid (the palpebral brandies) ; to the side of the 

 nose (the nasal branches), anastomosing with the nasal 

 branch of the ophthalmic ; and to the integument and mu- 

 cous membrane of the upper lip (the labial branches). 



The inferior maxillary is a mixed nerve, composed of the 

 inferior division of the large root and the small root. The 

 distribution of the motor filaments has already been de- 

 scribed under the head of the nerve of mastication. 1 This 

 nerve passes out of the cranial cavity by the foramen ovale, 

 and then separates into the anterior division, containing 

 nearly all of the motor filaments, and the posterior division, 

 which is chiefly sensory. The sensory portion breaks up 

 into numerous branches : 



1. The auriculo-temporal nerve supplies the integument 

 in the temporal region, the auditory meatus and the integu- 

 ment of the ear, the temporo-maxillary articulation, and the 

 parotid gland. It also sends important branches of commu- 

 nication to the facial. 



2. The lingual branch is distributed to the mucous mem- 

 brane of the tongue as far as the point, the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth, the gums, and to the sublingual gland. 

 This nerve receives an important branch from the facial, the 

 chorda tympani, which has already been described. 9 From 

 this nerve, also, are given off two or three branches which pass 

 to the submaxillary ganglion, constituting its sensory roots. 



3. The inferior dental nerye, the largest of the three, 

 passes in the substance of the inferior maxillary bone, be- 

 neath the teeth, to the mental foramen, where it emerges 

 upon the face. The most important sensory branches are 

 those which supply the pulps of the teeth, and the branches 

 upon the face. The nerve, emerging upon the face by the 

 mental foramen, called the mental nerve, supplies the integ- 

 ument of the chin and the lower part of the face, the lower 

 lip, and sends certain filaments to the mucous membrane of 

 the mouth. 



1 See page 141. 8 See page 143. 



