The mandibular nerve also innervates the muscles of mastication.

[1] The large sensory root of mandibular nerve emerges from the lateral part of the trigeminal ganglion and exits the cranial cavity through the foramen ovale.

The motor root (Latin: radix motoria s. portio minor), the small motor root of the trigeminal nerve, passes under the trigeminal ganglion and through the foramen ovale to unite with the sensory root just outside the skull.

[2][better source needed] The mandibular nerve immediately passes between tensor veli palatini, which is medial, and lateral pterygoid, which is lateral, and gives off a meningeal branch (nervus spinosus) and the nerve to medial pterygoid from its medial side.

The mandibular nerve gives off the following branches: Anterior Division (Motor Innervation - Muscles of mastication) (Sensory Innervation) Posterior Division Lingual Split (general sensory innervation (not special sensory for taste)) Inferior Alveolar Split (Motor Innervation) (Sensory Innervation) Auriculotemporal Split