# Mental nerve > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mental_nerve > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mental_nerve.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_nerve > Source revision: 1222894647 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Sensory nerve of the face Mental nerve Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion. (Mental nerve visible at bottom right, at chin.) Sensory areas of the head, showing the general distribution of the three divisions of the fifth nerve. (Mental nerve labeled at bottom left, near chin, in yellow.) Details From Inferior alveolar nerve Innervates Chin, lower lip Identifiers Latin nervus mentalis TA98 A14.2.01.094 TA2 6279 FMA 53250 Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata] The **mental nerve** is a [sensory nerve](/source/Sensory_nerve) of the [face](/source/Face). It is a branch of the posterior trunk of the [inferior alveolar nerve](/source/Inferior_alveolar_nerve), itself a branch of the [mandibular nerve](/source/Mandibular_nerve) (CN V3), itself a branch of the [trigeminal nerve](/source/Trigeminal_nerve) (CN V). It provides sensation to the front of the [chin](/source/Chin) and the [lower lip](/source/Lip), as well as the [gums](/source/Gums) of the anterior mandibular (lower) teeth. It can be blocked with [local anaesthesia](/source/Local_anesthesia) for procedures on the chin, lower lip, and [mucous membrane](/source/Mucous_membrane) of the inner cheek. Problems with the nerve cause chin numbness. ## Structure The mental nerve is a branch of the posterior trunk of the [inferior alveolar nerve](/source/Inferior_alveolar_nerve). This is a branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3), itself a branch of the [trigeminal nerve](/source/Trigeminal_nerve) (CN V).[1] It emerges from the [mental foramen](/source/Mental_foramen) in the [mandible](/source/Human_mandible).[2] It divides into three branches beneath the [depressor anguli oris muscle](/source/Depressor_anguli_oris_muscle). One branch descends to the skin of the [chin](/source/Chin). Two branches ascend to the skin and mucous membrane of the [lower lip](/source/Lower_lip). These branches communicate freely with the [facial nerve](/source/Facial_nerve). ## Function The mental nerve provides sensation to the front of the chin and the lower lip. It also provides sensation to some of the [gums](/source/Gums) of the anterior mandibular (lower) teeth. ## Clinical significance ### Anaesthesia The mental nerve can be blocked with [local anesthesia](/source/Local_anesthesia). This can be used in surgery of the [chin](/source/Chin), the [lower lip](/source/Lip), and the buccal mucosa from midline to the second premolar. In animals, it can be used in [surgery](/source/Surgery) of the lower lip,[2] and lower teeth anterior to the site of administration.[3] Local anesthetic is injected into the soft tissue surrounding the [mental foramen](/source/Mental_foramen), or more rarely into the mental foramen itself (although this can cause damage).[3] ### Chin numbness Problems with the mental nerve can cause numbness over the chin.[1] This can be caused by many different illnesses.[1] ### Reflexes When the mental nerve is stimulated with electricity, muscles that close the jaw (particularly [temporalis muscle](/source/Temporalis_muscle) and [masseter muscle](/source/Masseter_muscle)) are inhibited.[4] This is a brainstem [reflex](/source/Reflex).[4] ## References *This article incorporates text in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain) from [page 897](https://archive.org/stream/anatomyofhumanbo1918gray#page/897/mode/2up) of the 20th edition of* [Gray's Anatomy](/source/Gray's_Anatomy) *(1918)* 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:3_1-2) Gwathmey, Kelly G. (2018). ["17 - Plexus and peripheral nerve metastasis"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128111611000177). *Handbook of Clinical Neurology*. Vol. 149. [Elsevier](/source/Elsevier). pp. 257–279. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/B978-0-12-811161-1.00017-7](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FB978-0-12-811161-1.00017-7). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-12-811161-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-12-811161-1). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0072-9752](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0072-9752). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29307357](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29307357). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_2-1) Clarke, K. W.; Trim, C. M.; Hall, L. W. (2014). ["11 - Anaesthesia of the horse"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702027932000116). *Veterinary Anaesthesia* (11th ed.). [Saunders](/source/Saunders_(imprint)). pp. 245–311. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/B978-0-7020-2793-2.00011-6](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FB978-0-7020-2793-2.00011-6). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7020-2793-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7020-2793-2). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) Gorrel, Cecilia; Andersson, Susanne; Verhaert, Leen (2013). ["2 - Anesthesia and analgesia"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702049439000077). *Veterinary Dentistry for the General Practitioner* (2nd ed.). [Saunders](/source/Saunders_(imprint)). pp. 15–29. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/B978-0-7020-4943-9.00007-7](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FB978-0-7020-4943-9.00007-7). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7020-4943-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7020-4943-9). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_4-1) Sandrini, Giorgio; Rossi, Paolo (2010). [*Handbook of Clinical Neurology*](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0072975210970309). Vol. 97. [Elsevier](/source/Elsevier). pp. 367–376. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97030-9](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0072-9752%2810%2997030-9). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-444-52139-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-444-52139-2). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0072-9752](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0072-9752). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [20816436](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20816436). ## External links - [Anatomy photo:23:st-0610](http://ect.downstate.edu/courseware/haonline/labs/l23/st0610.htm) at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - "Anatomy of the Superficial Face - Nerves" - [MedEd at Loyola](/source/Loyola_University_Chicago) *[GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb3.htm](http://www.meddean.luc.edu/Lumen/MedEd/GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb3.htm)* - [cranialnerves](http://www.wesnorman.com/cranialnerves.htm) at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (*[V](http://www.wesnorman.com/Images/V.jpg)*) v t e The trigeminal nerve ophthalmic (V1) frontal supratrochlear supraorbital nasociliary long ciliary infratrochlear posterior ethmoidal anterior ethmoidal external nasal sensory root of ciliary ganglion ciliary ganglion lacrimal maxillary (V2) in middle cranial fossa middle meningeal in pterygopalatine fossa zygomatic zygomaticotemporal zygomaticofacial infraorbital posterior superior alveolar middle superior alveolar anterior superior alveolar mandibular (V3) in middle cranial fossa meningeal anterior division to muscles of mastication medial pterygoid/to tensor veli palatini lateral pterygoid masseteric deep temporal buccal posterior division auriculotemporal otic ganglion lingual submandibular ganglion inferior alveolar mylohyoid mental [Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals): - [Anatomy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Anatomy) Authority control databases Terminologia Anatomica --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mental nerve](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_nerve) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_nerve?action=history)). 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