Case

A 55 year old patient with rheumatoid arthritis is experiencing severe temporomandibular (TMJ) inflammatory pain.  

Question 2/2 - If the main trunk supplying the auriculotemporal nerve (i.e. the mandibular V3 nerve) was anesthetized by mistake what functions might the patient exhibit a deficit with?

Click on your selected option(s) below  (correct = 1, over-thinking = 2+)

Case Complete

Incorrect. Movement of the tongue is controlled by the hypoglossal (XII) nerve. Tongue movement would be normal with a V3 block.   

Correct! The mandibular (V3) nerve provides sensory to the mandible as well as motor control of the muscles of mastication. Block of the V3 nerve would paralyze jaw muscles on the affected side.

Incorrect. Movement of the cheek and lips are from the muscles of facial expression innervated by the facial (VII) nerve. Thus, facial expression is normal with a V3 block.

Incorrect. Taste to the anterior 2/3rd of the tongue is from the facial (VII) nerve, which gives rise to the small chorda tympani nerve carrying the taste fibers.  The chorda tympani nerve joins with the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa to innervate the tongue.

While a V3 block would remove sensation from the anterior 2/3rd of the tongue, unless the block were large enough to encompass the chorda tympani nerve (or lingual nerve distal to the joining of the chorda tympani) taste would be unaffected. 

Incorrect. Taste (and general sesnation) to the posterior 1/3rd of the tongue is from the glossopharyngeal nerve. These functions would be normal with a V3 block.