Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation: Opus III: Nervous System

Common variations in configuration, relationships, and formation of the auriculotemporal nerve; lateral view.

Ronald A. Bergman, PhD
Adel K. Afifi, MD, MS
Ryosuke Miyauchi, MD
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Note particularly the consistent location of the spray of branches regardless of the length or number of roots. Note also the origin of the lower roots of the auriculotemporal nerve from the inferior alveolar nerve in some examples. See the text for the frequency of occurrence of the several variations:

1. three roots;
2. single root;
3. origin of the lower root from a detached fascicle of the inferior alveolar nerve-
4. rare buttonhole type with short roots and long trunk;
5. Plexiform communication of roots with no definite trunk formation;
6. two-root nerve with lower root larger than upper;
7. both roots lateral to middle meningeal artery;
8. upper root "Pierced" by middle meningeal artery;
9. both roots medial to middle meningeal artery;
10. lower root drawn down by accessory meningeal artery;
11. lower root drawn down by maxillary artery; and
12. two root nerve with closely parallel roots having an oblique ramus connecting roots with each other.

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