Posterior superior alveolar nerve

The posterior superior alveolar nerves (also posterior superior dental nerves or posterior superior alveolar branches^{[citation needed]}) are sensory branches of the maxillary nerve (CN V₂). They arise within the pterygopalatine fossa as a single trunk. They run on or in the maxilla. They provide sensory innervation to the upper molar teeth and adjacent gum, and the maxillary sinus.

Posterior superior alveolar nerve
Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion. (Posterior sup. alveolar labeled at center.)
A sketch of the posterior super nasal nerve
Details
Innervates	maxillary sinus, molars, dental alveolus
Identifiers
Latin	rami alveolares superiores posteriores nervi maxillaris
TA98	A14.2.01.050
TA2	6235
FMA	75545
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Anatomy

Origin

The nerves arise from the trunk of^{[citation needed]} the maxillary nerve (CN V₂) within the pterygopalatine fossa^[1]: 496 just before it enters the infraorbital groove.^{[citation needed]}

The nerve arises as a single trunk which split into 2-3 nerves within the pterygopalatine fossa.^[1]: 496

Course

The nerves exit the pterygopalatine fossa through the pterygomaxillary fissure. They pass within or upon the posterior wall of the maxilla.^[1]: 496

They descend on the tuberosity of the maxilla and give off several twigs to the gums and neighboring parts of the mucous membrane of the cheek.^{[citation needed]}

They then enter the alveolar canals on the infratemporal surface of the maxilla, and, passing from behind forward in the substance of the bone, communicate with the middle superior alveolar nerve, and give off branches to the lining membrane of the maxillary sinus and gingival and dental branches to each molar tooth from a superior dental plexus; these branches enter the apical foramina at the roots of the teeth.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

The nerves provide sensory innervation to the upper/maxillary molar teeth and the associated gingiva of the vestibule, and the maxillary sinus.^[1]: 496

Teeth

The nerve innervates the second and third maxillary/upper molar teeth, and two of the three roots of the maxillary/upper first molar tooth (all but the mesiobuccal root).^{[citation needed]}

Clinical significance

When giving a posterior superior alveolar nerve block, it will anesthetize the mesialbuccal root of the maxillary/upper first molar tooth approximately 72% of the time.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Alveolar nerve (Dental nerve)

• Superior alveolar nerve (Superior dental nerve)

• Anterior superior alveolar nerve (Anterior superior dental nerve)
• Middle superior alveolar nerve (Middle superior dental nerve)

• Inferior alveolar nerve (Inferior dental nerve)

Additional images

•  
  Left maxilla. Outer surface.

References

1. Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.

  This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 890 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

• cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (V)
• lesson9 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (latnasalwall4)
• MedEd at Loyola GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb2.htm