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. 2025 Feb;11(1):e70051.
doi: 10.1002/cre2.70051.

An Anatomic Study of the Lingual Nerve and Associated Branches

René Human-Baron  1 , Alexander Procos  1 , André Uys  1
Affiliations

An Anatomic Study of the Lingual Nerve and Associated Branches

René Human-Baron et al. Clin Exp Dent Res. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the course and anatomy of the lingual nerve (LN) to minimize the risk of iatrogenic damage during dental procedures.

Material and methods: The LN was dissected in 25 cadavers (dentulous and edentulous). The intersection of the LN and submandibular duct (SMD), the bifurcation location from the mandibular nerve, the branching patterns of the main trunk, and the number of terminal branches were recorded.

Results: In dentulous females, LN distances to the third, second, and first molars were 11.46 ± 2.51, 15.50 ± 5.24, and 18.75 ± 5.91 mm, while in dentulous males, they were 10.98 ± 1.27, 15.75 ± 2.61, and 19.65 ± 4.50 mm, respectively. For edentulous mandibles, all distances were shorter compared to the dentulous group. In 39.13%, the LN passed superior to the SMD. The LN is bifurcated above the mandibular notch in all cases. The number of branches entering the tongue ranged from 2 to 9, with a Type 1 branching pattern found to be the most prevalent.

Conclusions: The study incorporated both dentulous and edentulous cadavers from a South African population. The findings hold significance for surgical procedures, providing valuable insights into minimizing potential damage.

Keywords: lingual nerve; mandibular molars; submandibular duct.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Type of LN branching patterns. (A) Type 1 branching pattern, (B) Type 2 branching pattern, and (C) Type 3 branching pattern (Shimotakahara et al. 2019). LN = lingual nerve.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The points represent the locations where the distances were measured for the first (M1), second (M2), and third (M3) mandibular molar to the lingual nerve (LN). Please note that the LN was moved medially to show the measuring points and not the true distance. S = superior; I = inferior; A = anterior; P = posterior.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The lingual nerve (LN) traveling beneath the SMD. SMD = submandibular duct, SMG = submandibular gland, S = superior, I = inferior, A = anterior, P = posterior.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Bifurcation of the lingual nerve (LN) and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (CNV3). MD = Mandible, S = superior, I = inferior, A = anterior, P = posterior.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Lingual nerve (LN) branches that enter the tongue: (A) 3 terminal branches, (B) 5 terminal branches, (C) 7 terminal branches, and (D) 9 terminal branches. S = superior, I = inferior, A = anterior, P = posterior.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The types of lingual nerve (LN) branches. (A) Type 1 branching pattern and (B) Type 2 branching pattern. LNb = lingual nerve branches, L = lateral, M = medial, S = superior, I = inferior, A = anterior, P = posterior.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Distance to LN from each mandibular molar in dentulous females. x = mean average of all data points, solid horizontal line = median value.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Distance to LN from each mandibular molar in dentulous males. x = mean average of all data points, solid horizontal line = median value.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Distance to LN from each mandibular molar in edentulous females. x = mean average of all data points, solid horizontal line = median value.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Distance to LN from each mandibular molar in edentulous males. x = mean average of all data points, solid horizontal line = median value.
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