Nerve to tensor tympani - Cranial nerves - Mandibular nerve; Mandibular division [Vc; V3] - e-Anatomy
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Nerve to tensor tympani

Nervus tensoris tympani

  • Latin synonym: Nervus musculi tensoris tympani
  • Synonym: Nerve to tensor tympani muscle
  • Related terms: Nerve to tensor tympani muscle

Definition

The nerve to tensor tympani is a branch of the nerve to medial pterygoid, that arises from the mandibular nerve.

The mandibular nerve descends through the foramen ovale to enter into the infratemporal fossa. Here, the main trunk of the mandibular nerve gives off a neuronal branch to the medial pterygoid muscle. Next, the nerve to medial pterygoid traverses through the otic ganglion without interruption (a.k.a. motor root of otic ganglion) and ends up innervating tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini muscles.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.

  • Standring, S. and Gray, H. (2016). ‘Chapter 37: External and Middle Ear’ in Gray’s anatomy The anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. (41st ed.) New York: Elsevier, pp. 637.

  • Zubair, A. and Khan, Y.S. Neuroanatomy, Otic Ganglion. [Updated 2022 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554413/

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