Quick Facts
Origin: Anterior division of the mandibular nerve.
Course: Runs laterally and superiorly, ascending to the temporal fossa along the deep surface of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
Branches: None.
Supply: Transmits branchial motor fibers to the temporalis muscle.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior deep temporal nerve emerges off the anterior division of the mandibular nerve, where it sits deep to the lateral pterygoid muscle. The posterior deep temporal nerve originates close to the masseteric nerve.
Its motor fibers have cell bodies located in the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve in the pons.
Course
The posterior deep temporal nerve runs laterally and superiorly, ascending deep to the superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle to reach the temporal fossa. It runs superiorly along the deep surface of the posterior temporalis muscle.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The posterior deep temporal nerve is a motor nerve. It transmits branchial motor efferents to the posterior portion of the temporalis muscle.
