Anatomy & Histology · single question
Patient with lower lip paresthesia. Which nerve is responsible?
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Correct answer: C. Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN)
- A. The lingual nerve, if injured, would cause paresthesia of the tongue/floor of mouth, not the lower lip.
- B. The facial nerve is a motor nerve to facial muscles, not the sensory nerve responsible for lower lip sensation.
- C. Correct. The inferior alveolar nerve (via its terminal mental nerve branch) provides sensory innervation to the lower lip; injury during procedures (e.g., IAN block, third molar extraction, implant placement) classically causes lower lip paresthesia.
- D. The buccal nerve provides sensation to the buccal mucosa/gingiva, not the lower lip.
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