Angle of mandible is supplied by –
**Core Concept**
The angle of the mandible is a region of the jawbone that requires a specific nerve supply for sensation and motor function. This region is innervated by branches of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V), which is responsible for sensory and motor innervation of the face and jaw.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is the nerve that provides motor innervation to the muscles of mastication, including the medial and lateral pterygoid muscles, which are responsible for elevating the mandible and closing the mouth. The nerve also provides sensory innervation to the skin and mucous membranes of the angle of the mandible. The nerve in question is a branch of the trigeminal nerve that arises from the mandibular division (V3), which is responsible for innervating the muscles of mastication and the skin of the lower face.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
- **Option A:** This option is likely incorrect as it does not match any known nerve supply to the angle of the mandible. However, without further information, it is difficult to determine why this option is incorrect.
- **Option B:** This option may be incorrect as it does not match the nerve supply to the angle of the mandible. The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) primarily provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression and sensory innervation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
- **Option C:** This option is likely incorrect as it does not match the nerve supply to the angle of the mandible. The glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX) primarily provides sensory innervation to the posterior one-third of the tongue and motor innervation to the stylopharyngeus muscle.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The trigeminal nerve is responsible for the sensation of pain, temperature, touch, and proprioception (position sense) in the face and jaw. The nerve has three main divisions: the ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) divisions, each of which has specific areas of innervation.
**Correct Answer:** C.