Comprehensive Notes on Maxillary and Mandibular Nerve Supply and Anatomy

Flashcards covering the nerve supply of the maxilla and mandible, including cranial nerves, their divisions, and supply areas for dental assessment.

What is the unit code for chairside support during oral health assessment?

H4PW 04

What is an essential component of the chairside support role during patient assessment?

Effective communication with patients and other members of the oral health care team, and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing.

What components make up the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)?

Temporal bone, glenoid fossa, articular disc, and condyle.

What are the two basic premises for mandibular function when it closes?

There is an ideal way for the teeth to contact and an ideal place for the condyle and disc to be situated.

What is 'lock jaw' also known as, in cases of jaw hyperextension?

Subluxation

What is 'lock jaw' caused by?

Hyperextension of the jaw.

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the forehead?

Frontal bone

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the lower jaw?

Mandible

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the side of the head, above the ear?

Temporal bone

Which bone is number 1 on the diagram (cheekbone)?

Zygoma

Which bone is number 2 on the diagram (upper jaw)?

Maxilla

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the bridge of the nose?

Nasal bone

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the temple region, a butterfly-shaped bone deep within the skull?

Sphenoid bone

Which bone is being touched when pointing to the top, side part of the head?

Parietal bone

Which bone is located at the back and base of the skull?

Occipital bone

Where is the mandibular foramen located on the mandible?

Inner aspect of the ramus, near the lingula.

Where is the mental foramen located?

Below the apices of the premolars on the buccal aspect of the mandible.

Where is the incisive foramen located?

On the palatal aspect of the maxilla, behind the central incisors.

Where is the greater palatine foramen located?

On the palatal aspect of the maxilla, near the posterior teeth.

How do nerves supplying the oral cavity differ from those supplying the rest of the body?

Oral cavity nerves run directly from the brain as cranial nerves, while body nerves run from the spinal cord as systemic nerves.

What are the three types of cranial nerves based on their function?

Sensory, Motor, or a combination of both.

How many pairs of cranial nerves are relevant to dentistry?

Four pairs.

What is the function of motor nerves?

They make muscles and glands work by passing information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles.

What is the function of sensory nerves?

They convey pain or other sensations by relaying information from the skin and muscles back to the spinal cord and brain.

Which cranial nerve is also known as the 5th cranial nerve?

The Trigeminal nerve.

What areas does the Trigeminal nerve supply?

Teeth, soft tissues, and muscles of mastication.

Which cranial nerve is also known as the 7th cranial nerve?

The Facial nerve.

What areas does the Facial nerve supply?

Some salivary glands, the muscles of facial expression, and parts of the tongue.

What condition is described as 'facial nerve paralysis' and is the commonest type of facial palsy?

Bell's Palsy.

Which cranial nerve is also known as the 9th cranial nerve?

The Glossopharyngeal nerve.

What areas does the Glossopharyngeal nerve supply?

The throat, parts of the tongue, and other salivary glands.

Which cranial nerve is also known as the 12th cranial nerve?

The Hypoglossal nerve.

What areas does the Hypoglossal nerve supply?

Movement of the tongue (extrinsic and intrinsic muscles).

Into how many main divisions does the Trigeminal nerve divide?

Three: Ophthalmic, Maxillary, and Mandibular.

Which division of the Trigeminal nerve is sensory and supplies soft tissue around the eye and upper face?

The Ophthalmic division (V1).

Which division of the Trigeminal nerve is the sensory nerve to the upper teeth, maxilla, and upper area of the face?

The Maxillary division (V2).

Name the three buccal divisions of the Maxillary nerve.

Anterior Superior Alveolar, Middle Superior Alveolar, and Posterior Superior Alveolar nerves.

Name the two palatal divisions of the Maxillary nerve.

Greater Palatine nerve and Nasopalatine nerve.

What teeth and gingivae does the Anterior Superior Alveolar nerve supply?

Incisors, canines, and labial gingivae, along with soft tissues of the upper lip and nostrils.

What teeth and gingivae does the Middle Superior Alveolar nerve supply?

Premolars and the mesial half of the first molar, and their buccal gingivae.

What teeth and gingivae does the Posterior Superior Alveolar nerve supply?

The distal half of the first molar, second molar, third molar, and their buccal gingivae.

What gingivae does the Nasopalatine nerve supply?

The palatal gingivae of the upper central, lateral incisors, and the anterior half of the canines.

What gingivae does the Greater Palatine nerve supply?

The palatal gingivae of the molars (6,7,8), premolars (4,5), and the posterior half of the canines (3).

Which division of the Trigeminal nerve is sensory to the lower teeth, mandible, lower face, and motor to the muscles of mastication?

The Mandibular division (V3).

Name the four divisions of the Mandibular nerve.

Inferior Dental Nerve, Lingual Nerve, Long Buccal Nerve, and Mental Nerve.

What teeth, gingivae, and soft tissues does the Inferior Dental (Alveolar) Nerve supply?

All lower teeth, labial/buccal gingivae of premolars, canines, incisors (but not posterior gingivae 6,7,8), soft tissues of the lower lip and chin.

What gingivae and sensations does the Lingual Nerve supply?

Lingual gingivae of all lower teeth, the floor of the mouth, and touch sensation of the anterior 2/3 of the tongue.

What gingivae does the Long Buccal Nerve supply?

The buccal gingivae of the lower molars (6,7,8).

What gingivae and soft tissues does the Mental Nerve supply?

The buccal gingivae of the incisors, canines, premolars, lower lip, and chin.

Which artery supplies blood to the teeth and gingivae?

Branches of the External Carotid Artery.

Where do the veins draining the oral area eventually join?

The superior vena cava.