550 CRANIAL NERVES. 



masseteric branch. The anterior branch is reflected upwards, at the pterygoid 

 ridge of the sphenoid, to the front of the temporal fossa. It is occasionally joined 

 with the buccal nerve. 



The buccal branch pierces the External pterygoid, and passes downwards 

 beneath the inner surface of the coronoid process of the lower jaw or through the 

 fibres of the Temporal muscle, to reach the surface of the Buccinator, upon which 

 it divides into a superior and an inferior branch. It gives a branch to the External 

 1 pterygoid during its passage through this muscle, and a few ascending filaments 

 to the Temporal muscle, one of which occasionally joins with the anterior branch 

 of the deep temporal nerve. The upper branch supplies the integument and upper 

 part of the Buccinator muscle, joining with the facial nerve round the facial vein. 

 The lower branch passes forwards to the angle of the mouih ; supplies the integu- 

 ment and Buccinator muscle, as well as the mucous membrane lining its inner 

 surface, joining with the facial nerve. 



The pterygoid branches are two in number, one for each Pterygoid muscle. 

 The branch to the Internal pterygoid is long and slender, and passes inwards to 

 enter the deep surface of the muscle. This nerve is intimately connected at its 

 origin with the otic ganglion. The branch to the External pterygoid is most 

 frequently derived from the buccal, but it may be given off separately from the 

 anterior trunk of the nerve. 



The Posterior and larger division of the inferior maxillary nerve also receives 

 a few filaments from the motor root. It divides into three branches, auriculo- 

 temporal, gustatory, and inferior dental. 



The AUEICULO-TEMPOEAL NERVE generally arises by two roots, between which 

 passes the middle meningeal artery. It passes backwards beneath the External 

 pterygoid muscle to the inner side of the articulation of the lower jaw. It then 

 turns upwards with the temporal artery, between the external ear and condyle of 

 the jaw, under cover of the parotid gland, and, escaping from beneath this struc- 

 ture, divides into two temporal branches. The posterior temporal, the smaller 

 of the two, supplies the Attrahens aurem muscle, and is distributed to the upper 

 part of the pinna and the neighboring integument. The anterior temporal 

 accompanies the temporal artery to the vertex of the skull, and supplies the 

 integument of the temporal region, communicating with the facial nerve. 



The auriculo-temporal nerve has branches of communication with the facial 

 and otic ganglion. Those joining the facial nerve, usually two in number, pass 

 forwards behind the neck of the condyle of the jaw, and join this nerve at the 

 posterior border of the Masseter muscle. They form one of the principal branches 

 of communication between the facial and the fifth nerve. The filaments of com- 

 munication with the otic ganglion are derived from the commencement of the 

 auriculo-temporal nerve. 



The auricular branches are two in number, inferior and superior. The inferior 

 auricular arises behind the articulation of the jaw, and is distributed to the ear 

 below the external meatus ; other filaments twine round the internal maxillary 

 artery, and communicate with the sympathetic. The superior auricular arises 

 in front of the internal ear, and supplies the integument covering the tragus and 

 pinna. 



Branches to the meatus auditorius, two in number, arise from the point of com- 

 munication between the temporo-auricular and facial nerves, and are distributed 

 to the meatus. 



The branch to the temporo-maxillary articulation is usually derived from the 

 auriculo-temporal nerve. 



The parotid branches supply the parotid gland. 



The GUSTATORY or LINGUAL NERVE (fig. 280), one of the special nerves of the 

 sense of taste, supplies the papillas and mucous membrane of the tongue. It is 

 deeply placed throughout the whole of its course. It lies at first beneath the 

 External pterygoid muscle, together with the inferior dental nerve, being placed 

 to the inner side of the latter nerve, and is occasionally joined to it by a branch 



