Nerve Pterygoid Lateral

The lateral pterygoid nerve (lat. Nervus pterygoideus lateralis) is one of the paired large auriculotemporal nerves. The longest nerve in the human body. It innervates the parotid salivary gland, as well as the skin of the temporal region.

The pterygomaxillary nerve (lat. nervus pterygopalatinus) is a branch of the maxillary nerve. It is one of the branches of the first and second branches of the trigeminal nerve.

It passes through the pterygomandibular foramen and exits onto the facial surface of the medial pterygoid bone at the level of its base. Along its path, it innervates the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and palate, as well as the muscles involved in the formation of the facial skeleton, including the pterygoid muscle, which elevates the mandible, and the medial pterygoid muscle, which depresses the mandible.