Mylohyoid Nerve Origin — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Mylohyoid Nerve OriginMFDS Part 1

In typical anatomy, where does the nerve to mylohyoid branch from the inferior alveolar nerve?

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Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: E — In the infratemporal fossa, just proximal to the mandibular foramen

Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · D = shown as C · E = shown as D · A = shown as E

The correct answer is A. In typical anatomy, the nerve to mylohyoid arises from the inferior alveolar nerve in the infratemporal fossa, shortly before the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen. It then descends in the mylohyoid groove on the medial surface of the mandible and supplies the mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric. It does not normally originate within the mandibular canal or at or beyond the mental foramen, excluding B, C and D. By the time it reaches the submandibular region in E, it has already arisen and traversed the mylohyoid groove. Rare variant origins occur, so specifying typical anatomy prevents these exceptions from making the item ambiguous.

Reference: Chandrasekaran B, John RR, Murugadoss P. Anatomical Variations of Mylohyoid Nerve and Its Clinical Significance: A Cadaveric Study with Review of Literature. Journal of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery. 2025;24(1):274–278. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39902408/