Posterior superior alveolar nerve
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At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Raymond Chieng had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Raymond Chieng's current disclosures- posterior superior dental nerve
The posterior superior alveolar nerve, also known as the posterior superior dental nerve, is a branch of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve arising just before the infra-orbital nerve. It is the first of the superior alveolar nerves and contributes to the superior dental plexus.
Gross anatomy
It arises from the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve in the pterygopalatine fossa just before it enters the inferior orbital fissure 4, and descends into the pterygomaxillary fissure. From here it or several individual branches enter the maxilla via small alveolar canals. Terminal dental branches enter the apical foramina at the dental roots.
The nerves supply the maxillary sinus, posterior maxillary oral mucosa and the maxillary molar teeth apart from the mesiobuccal root of the first maxillary molar tooth, which is supplied by the middle superior alveolar nerve.
Variant anatomy
When the middle superior alveolar nerve is absent, the posterior superior alveolar nerve will supply all the molars and premolars.
References
- 1. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
- 2. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy.(2015). Pages 526, 553. ISBN: 9780702052309
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