Course of buccal nerve on the anterior border of mandibular ramus related to temporalis tendon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the course of the buccal nerve on the anterior border of mandibular ramus in relation to superficial and deep tendons of the temporalis muscle. Distance was measured from the lingula level to each of the two points where the buccal nerve crosses over the deep tendon on the lingual side and the superficial tendon on the buccal side. The buccal nerve crossed over the deep tendon at approximately 2.4 cm above the lingula level and descended infero-laterally over the superficial tendon at approximately 0.2 cm above the lingula level towards the buccal side. In a dentulous adult, lingula is located approximately 1 cm above the occlusal plane. Therefore, when making incisions on the mandibular ramus beyond the occlusal plane, clinicians must be careful because the buccal nerve and temporalis tendons can be damaged.