The lingual nerve is a sensory branch of the posterior division of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. Gross anatomy ------------------- The lingual nerve divides off the posterior division and descends anterior to the inferior alveolar nerve to course between the lateral pterygoid and tensor veli palatini muscles and then medial pterygoid muscle and the mandible, contacting the internal surface of the mandible at the posterior margin of the mylohyoid line. Hence it is deep to the m