Medial pterygoid nerve
(Redirected from Nervus pterygoideus medialis)
Medial Pterygoid Nerve
The Medial Pterygoid Nerve is a branch of the Mandibular Nerve, which is the third division of the Trigeminal Nerve. It is primarily responsible for the innervation of the Medial Pterygoid Muscle, a muscle of mastication.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
The term "Pterygoid" is derived from the Greek words "pteryx" and "eidos", meaning "wing" and "form" respectively. This is in reference to the wing-like shape of the pterygoid process, where the medial pterygoid muscle and consequently the medial pterygoid nerve are located.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The medial pterygoid nerve branches off from the mandibular nerve, near the Foramen Ovale. It then travels to the medial pterygoid muscle, providing motor innervation. In addition to the medial pterygoid muscle, the nerve also supplies the Tensor Veli Palatini and the Tensor Tympani, muscles involved in the function of the Eustachian Tube and the Middle Ear respectively.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Damage to the medial pterygoid nerve can result in difficulty in chewing and swallowing, due to the impaired function of the medial pterygoid muscle and the tensor veli palatini. This can be a result of trauma, surgical complications, or pathological conditions such as Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Related Terms[edit | edit source]
- Mandibular Nerve
- Trigeminal Nerve
- Medial Pterygoid Muscle
- Tensor Veli Palatini
- Tensor Tympani
- Eustachian Tube
- Middle Ear
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
| Medial pterygoid nerve Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
