402 GUSTATORY NERVE INFERIOR DENTAL NERVE. 



temporal fascia, and communicate with the lachrymal, temporo- 

 malar, auricular 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 in- 

 wards to the internal pterygoid muscle. This nerve is remarkable 

 from its connexion with the otic ganglion, to which it is closely 

 attached. 



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 papillee 

 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, and to the tonsils, and numerous filaments 

 to the submaxillary 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 to the teeth, and divides into 

 two branches, incisive and mental. The incisive branch passes for- 

 wards to supply the incisive teeth : and the mental branch escapes 

 through the mental foramen, to be distributed to the muscles, and 

 integument of the chin, and to communicate with the facial nerve. 



It gives off but one branch, the mylo-hyoidean, which leaves the 



* The name buccal is usually applied to the central branches from the pes anserinus 

 of the facial nerve. G. 



