title: Variations in the branching pattern of posterior division of mandibular nerve: a case report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Abnormal communications among the branches of mandibular nerve especially the posterior division are significant due to various procedures undertaken in this region. These variations are worth reporting as they pose serious implications in several interventions in this region, and may even lead to false diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  During routine dissection, the mandibular nerve and its branches were dissected in the infratemporal fossa. The branches from the posterior division of the mandibular nerve namely the inferior alveolar and auriculotemporal nerves were carefully dissected, and their abnormal branching pattern was noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a communicating branch between left inferior alveolar and auriculotemporal nerve. There was also a variant recurrent branch from the left inferior alveolar nerve that supplied the lateral pterygoid muscle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Such variant branches and communications between the branches of mandibular nerve as seen in this case have an embryological basis and are clinically important in this region especially for dental surgeries and anesthesia.
authors: Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantri Nagar, Puducherry, 605006, India, aparnamuraleedharan18@gmail.com.
authors: Aparna
authors: A
authors: Muraleedharan
authors: Raveendranath
authors: R
authors: Veeramani
authors: Parkash
authors: P
authors: Chand
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008875:Middle Aged