Sensory Distribution of Mandibular Nerve

Overview

The mandibular nerve (V3) provides general somatic afferent (sensory) supply to the following regions. It does not supply the cornea, nasal cavity, or upper face (those are V1 and V2).

Cutaneous (Skin) Distribution

Nerve	Skin Area
Auriculotemporal nerve	Temple (anterior temporal region), tragus of ear, upper part of auricle, skin of external acoustic meatus, outer surface of tympanic membrane
Buccal nerve (long buccal)	Skin and mucous membrane of cheek
Mental nerve (terminal branch of inferior alveolar)	Skin of chin, lower lip, mucous membrane of lower lip
Inferior alveolar nerve	Gingiva and skin over lower jaw (before terminating as mental nerve)

Mucous Membrane Distribution

Nerve	Mucosal Area
Lingual nerve	Anterior 2/3 of tongue (general sensation — touch, pain, temperature); floor of mouth; lingual gingiva of lower teeth
Buccal nerve	Mucous membrane of cheek; buccal gingiva of lower molar teeth
Inferior alveolar nerve	Gingiva of lower teeth; inner aspect of lower lip (via mental nerve)

Teeth and Bone

Nerve	Structures
Inferior alveolar nerve (via inferior dental plexus)	All lower teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, molars) on the same side
Mental nerve	Premolars, canines, incisors (by communicating branches)

Special Sensory — Taste

V3 itself carries no taste fibres. Taste from anterior 2/3 tongue is carried by chorda tympani (branch of CN VII) which joins the lingual nerve — these are VII fibres travelling in the V3 sheath.

Joint

• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ): Supplied by auriculotemporal nerve (posterior aspect) and masseteric nerve (anterior aspect)

Summary Map

Temple / scalp (anterior)     ← Auriculotemporal nerve
Auricle (tragus, upper part)  ← Auriculotemporal nerve
External acoustic meatus      ← Auriculotemporal nerve
Cheek (skin + mucosa)         ← Buccal nerve
Chin + lower lip (skin)       ← Mental nerve
Floor of mouth                ← Lingual nerve
Tongue anterior 2/3 (general) ← Lingual nerve
Lower teeth (all)             ← Inferior alveolar nerve
Lingual gingiva (lower)       ← Lingual nerve
Buccal gingiva (lower molars) ← Buccal nerve

Mandibular Nerve