Trigeminal nerve Anatomy - The Mandibular nerve

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The mandibular nerve is the largest of three divisions of trigeminal nerve. It begins in the middle cranial fossa as two roots: a larger sensory root and a smaller motor root. The large sensory root arises from lateral convex part of the trigeminal ganglion and immediately leaves the cranial cavity by passing through foramen ovale to enter the infratemporal fossa. The small motor root arises from the pons, lies deep to the trigeminal ganglion and the sensory
root. It also passes through foramen ovale to join the sensory root just below the foramen ovale in the infratemporal fossa, thus forming the main trunk. The mandibular nerve trunk is short and after a short course divides into a small anterior and large posterior division.