Which nerve provides sensation to the skin of the cheek?

Prepare for the Individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) 4 in Head and Neck. Study with multiple-choice questions, comprehensive explanations, and detailed flashcards. Maximize your chances of success with thorough preparation and insightful study resources.

Multiple Choice

Which nerve provides sensation to the skin of the cheek?

The sensation of the cheek skin is carried by the long buccal nerve, a sensory branch of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve. As it runs along the buccinator, it provides cutaneous sensation to the cheek skin and also to the inner lining of the cheek mucosa. This makes it the correct choice for feeling on the cheek. Other branches come from different roots or target different facial regions: the zygomatic nerve (from V2) supplies skin over the zygomatic area and parts of the orbit, the infraorbital nerve (from V2) supplies the midface including the lower eyelid, side of the nose, and upper lip, and the mental nerve (from V3) supplies the chin and lower lip.

The sensation of the cheek skin is carried by the long buccal nerve, a sensory branch of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve. As it runs along the buccinator, it provides cutaneous sensation to the cheek skin and also to the inner lining of the cheek mucosa. This makes it the correct choice for feeling on the cheek.

Other branches come from different roots or target different facial regions: the zygomatic nerve (from V2) supplies skin over the zygomatic area and parts of the orbit, the infraorbital nerve (from V2) supplies the midface including the lower eyelid, side of the nose, and upper lip, and the mental nerve (from V3) supplies the chin and lower lip.

More practice questions