The lingual nerve (Slide 1 and Slide 2) is derived from the posterior trunk of the mandibular nerve

within the infratemporal fossa. It receives the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve beneath
the lateral pterygoid muscle. At the level of the mandibular foramen, the lingual nerve lies on the
medial pterygoid muscle and is anterior to the inferior alveolar nerve. The nerve then leaves the
infratemporal fossa, passing downwards and forwards to lie close to the lingual alveolar plate of
the mandibular third molar tooth. Before curving forwards into the tongue, the nerve is found
above the origin of the mylohyoid muscle and lateral to the hyoglossus muscle. On the superficial
surface of the hyoglossus muscle, the lingual nerve twists twice around the submandibular
salivary duct, first on the lateral side of the duct and then on the medial side. It enters the tongue
behind the sublingual salivary gland. Suspended from the lingual nerve as it runs across the
hyoglossus muscle is the submandibular parasympathetic ganglion.

The lingual nerve itself supplies the mucosa covering the anterior two-thirds of the dorsum of the
tongue, the ventral surface of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the lingual gingivae of the
mandibular teeth.