Buccal Nerve Anatomy — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Buccal Nerve AnatomyMFDS Part 1

During mandibular third molar surgery, a nerve providing general sensory innervation to the adjacent buccal mucosa and buccal gingiva is identified. The long buccal nerve usually arises from which cranial nerve division?

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Correct answer: B — Mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3)

The correct answer is **A: the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3)**. The long buccal nerve is usually the sensory branch of the anterior division of V3. It supplies the buccal mucosa, buccal gingiva adjacent to the mandibular molars, and part of the cheek skin. It should not be confused with the buccal branches of the facial nerve (VII), which are principally motor and supply muscles of facial expression, including buccinator. V2 supplies the midface and maxillary structures, while V1 supplies the forehead and orbital region. The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies structures including the posterior third of the tongue and oropharynx rather than the mandibular molar buccal tissues.

Reference: Siddik AB, Sapra A. Anatomy, Head and Neck: Buccal Nerve. StatPearls, updated 2023; 2026 edition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32809567/