Gingival branches of mental nerve

Rami gingivales nervi mentalis

Latin synonym: Rami gingivales inferiores nervi mentalis
Synonym: Inferior gingival branches of mental nerve
Related terms: Gingival branches

The mental nerve (n. mentalis) emerges at the mental foramen, and divides beneath the Triangularis muscle into three branches; one descends to the skin of the chin (Mental branches), and two ascend to the skin and mucous membrane of the lower lip (gingival branches and labial branches); these branches communicate freely with the facial nerve.

References

This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).