Masseteric nerve

The masseteric nerve or nerve to masseter is a motor branch of the anterior division of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

Gross anatomy

The masseteric nerve divides off the anterior division and continues lateral to the lateral pterygoid muscle and then medially through the mandibular notch. It has two small branches:

• a motor branch which enters the deep surface of the masseter muscle and supplies it
• an articular branch to the temporomandibular joint (the remainder of the joint is supplied by the auriculotemporal nerve)