INFERIOR MAXILLARY. 623 



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 Auricula-temporal nerve generally arises by two roots, between which the 

 middle meningeal artery passes. It runs 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 structure, divides into two temporal branches. The posterior tem- 

 poral, the smaller of the two, is distributed to the upper part of the pinna and 

 the neighboring tissues. 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 fila- 

 ments of communication with the otic ganglion are derived from the commence- 

 ment 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 external ear, and supplies the integument covering the tragus 

 and pinna. 



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

 communication between the auriculo-temporal and facial nerves, and are dis- 

 tributed 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, one of the special nerves of the sense of 

 taste, supplies the papillae 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 which 

 crosses the internal maxillary artery. The chorda tympani also joins it at an 

 acute angle in this situation. The nerve then passes between the Internal 

 Pterygoid muscle and the inner side of the ramus of the jaw, and crosses 

 obliquely to the side of the tongue over the Superior Constrictor muscle of the 

 pharynx, and beneath the Stylo-glossus muscle and deep part of the submax- 

 illary gland ; the nerve lastly runs across Wharton's duct, and along the side 

 of the tongue to its apex, being covered by the mucous membrane of the mouth. 



Its branches of communication are with the submaxillary ganglion and hypo- 

 glossal nerve. The branches of the submaxillary ganglion are two or three in 

 number; those connected with the hypoglossal nerve form a plexus at the 

 anterior margin of the Hyo-glossus muscle. 



Its branches of distribution are few in number. They supply the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth, the gums, the sublingual gland, the conical and fungi- 

 form papillae and mucous membrane of the tongue, the terminal filaments anas- 

 tomosing at the tip of the tongue with the hypoglossal nerve. 



The Inferior Dental is the largest of the three branches of the inferior max- 

 illary nerve. It passes downwards with the inferior dental artery, at first be- 

 neath the External Pterygoid muscle, and then between the internal lateral 



