A patient has loss of sensation at angle of mandible (jaw) and parotid area. Which of the following nerve is most likely to be injured –
The mandibular angle and parotid area are in the cheek and jaw area. The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) is the main sensory nerve here. It has three branches: ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3). The mandibular nerve (V3) is responsible for the lower part of the face, including the angle of the jaw. But wait, the parotid area—maybe the auriculotemporal nerve, which is a branch of the mandibular nerve, innervates the parotid region. Also, the facial nerve (VII) has branches like the buccal nerve, but those are more motor. Wait, the buccal nerve is part of the mandibular division and provides sensory innervation to the cheek.
Wait, the angle of the mandible is a key point. The auriculotemporal nerve supplies the parotid gland and surrounding areas. The buccal nerve from the mandibular division might supply the cheek area. So if both the angle of the mandible and parotid area are affected, maybe the auriculotemporal nerve is involved. But let me check the branches. The auriculotemporal nerve comes from the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. So injury to the mandibular nerve could affect the auriculotemporal nerve, leading to loss in the parotid area and angle of the jaw. Alternatively, could it be the facial nerve? The facial nerve's buccal branch is motor to the buccinator muscle but not sensory. Sensory in that area is from the trigeminal.
So the likely nerve injured is the auriculotemporal nerve, which is a branch of the mandibular nerve. Therefore, the correct answer would be the auriculotemporal nerve. The options probably list it as one of the choices. The distractors might include the facial nerve, buccal nerve, or others. Let me verify. The auriculotemporal nerve's sensory distribution includes the parotid region and the angle of the mandible. So if that's the case, the correct answer is the auriculotemporal nerve. The other options would be incorrect because the facial nerve is motor, the buccal nerve is for the cheek, and the maxillary nerve is for the upper face.
**Core Concept**
The question tests knowledge of trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) branches and their sensory distributions. The auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular division (V3), innervates the parotid gland area and the angle of the mandible. Damage to this nerve causes sensory loss in these regions.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The auriculotemporal nerve (a branch of the mandibular nerve, V3) provides sensory innervation to the parotid gland, external auditory meatus, and the angle of the mandible. Injury