GUSTATORY NERVE. INFERIOR DENTAL NERVE. 443 



muscle. Two or three filaments from these nerves pierce the temporal 

 fascia, and communicate with the lachrymal, sub-cutaneus malae, auri- 

 cular and facial nerve. 



Buccal ; a large branch which pierces the fibres of the external 

 pterygoid, to reach the buccinator muscle. This nerve sends fila- 

 ments to the temporal and external pterygoid muscle, to the mucous 

 membrane and integument of the cheek, and communicates with the 

 facial nerve. 



Internal pterygoid ; a long and slender branch, which passes inwards 

 to the internal pterygoid muscle, and gives filaments in its course to 

 the tensor palati and tensor tympani. This nerve is remarkable 

 from its connection with the otic ganglion, to which it is closely at- 

 tached. 



The Internal trunk divides into three branches 

 Gustatory, 

 Inferior dental, 

 Anterior auricular. 



The GUSTATORY NERVE descends between the two pterygoid 

 muscles to the side of the tongue, where it becomes flattened, and 

 divides into numerous filaments, which are distributed to the papillae 

 and mucous membrane. 



Relations. It lies at first between the external pterygoid muscle 

 and the pharynx, next between the two pterygoid muscles, then be- 

 tween the internal pterygoid and ramus of the jaw, and between the 

 stylo-glossus muscle and the submaxillary gland ; lastly, it runs along 

 the side of the tongue, resting upon the hyo-glossus muscle, and 

 covered in by the mylo-hyoideus and mucous membrane. 



The gustatory nerve, while between the two pterygoid muscles, 

 receives a branch from the inferior dental ; lower down it is joined at 

 an acute angle by the chorda tympani which passes downwards in the 

 sheath of the gustatory to the submaxillary gland, where it unites with 

 the submaxillary ganglion. On the hyo-glossus muscle some branches 

 of communication are sent to the hypoglossal, and in the course of the 

 nerve several small branches to the mucous membrane of the fauces, 

 to the tonsils, submaxillary gland, Wharton's duct, and sublingual 

 gland. 



The INFERIOR DENTAL NERVE passes downwards with the inferior 

 dental artery, at first between the two pterygoid muscles, and then 

 between the internal lateral ligament and the ramus of the lower jaw, 

 to the dental foramen. It then runs along the canal in the inferior 

 maxillary bone, distributing branches (inferior maxillary plexus) to the 

 teeth and gums, and divides into two terminal branches, incisive and 

 mental. The incisive branch passes forwards, to supply the incisive 

 teeth : the mental branch escapes through the mental foramen, to be 

 distributed to the muscles and integument of the chin and lower lip, 

 and to the mucous membrane of the latter, communicating with the 

 facial nerve. 



