Medial pterygoid nerve

The medial pterygoid nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve. It supplies the medial pterygoid muscle, the tensor veli palatini muscle, and the tensor tympani muscle.

Structure

Origin

The medial pterygoid nerve is a slender branch of the mandibular nerve .''''''

Course

It passes through the otic ganglion. It penetrates the deep surface of the medial pterygoid muscle. It issues 1-2 twigs which traverse the otic ganglion to reach and innervate the tensor tympani muscle, and tensor veli palatini muscle.''''''

Distribution

The medial pterygoid nerve supplies the medial pterygoid muscle, tensor tympani muscle, and tensor veli palatini muscle.
The tensor veli palati muscle is the only of the five paired skeletal muscles to the soft palate not innervated by the pharyngeal plexus.