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Lingual Nerve

nervus lingualis

The lingual nerve provides general sensation (touch, pain, temperature) to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and floor of the mouth, complemented by the taste fibres it receives from the chorda tympani. Its medial position adjacent to the lower third molar makes it the nerve most commonly injured during wisdom tooth extraction, producing tongue numbness and paraesthesia that can profoundly affect eating and speech quality.

Region: Head & Skull

Anatomical Data

Origin, Insertion & Supply

Origin	Posterior trunk of the mandibular nerve (V3) in the infratemporal fossa

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Lingual nerve injury during lower third molar extraction produces ipsilateral anterior tongue numbness and dysgeusia that is temporary in 90 percent of cases but permanent in approximately 0.5 to 2 percent when the nerve is transected. The risk is highest with lingually impacted teeth, instrumentation placed medial to the lingual plate, and extraction of lower third molars where the nerve lies above the lingual plate margin. Microsurgical lingual nerve repair is offered for complete transections identified within 3 months.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Lingual Nerve Injury

Tongue numbness from nerve damage during lower third molar extraction, resolving in 90 percent of cases but permanent in 0.5 to 2 percent when transected, with microsurgical repair offered for complete injuries identified early.