Clinical anatomy of the nerve to the mylohyoid.

Anat Cell Biol. 2019 Mar;52(1):12-16. doi: 10.5115/acb.2019.52.1.12. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Choi P, Iwanaga J, Dupont G, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS.

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Abstract

The nerve to the mylohyoid (NM) originates from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. The NM provides motor control to the mylohyoid and the anterior belly of the digastric. Its sensory component, as a variation of this nerve, has scantly been described in the literature. We discuss the current clinical implications of the NM based on its anatomical variations of the with the hopes of benefiting patients who are undergoing invasive maxillofacial procedures.

KEYWORDS:

Anatomy; Inferior alveolar nerve; Mandibular nerve; Maxillofacial surgery; Nerve block; Variation.

Fig. 1

Medial view of the right mandible and mylohyoid groove (arrowheads). MF, mandibular foramen.

Fig. 2

The nerve to the mylohyoid derived from the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), provides the motor branches to the mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric muscles and enters the lingual foramen (arrowhead). aDM, anterior belly of digastric muscle; LN, lingual nerve; MF, mandibular foramen; MhM, mylohyoid muscle; NM, nerve to mylohyoid.

Fig. 3

Lingual foramen (arrowhead).

Fig. 4

Lateral lingual foramen (arrowheads).