A 50-year-old woman complained of pain over her chin and lower lip. A few days later small vesicles appeared over the same area and soon began erupting. She was diagnosed with a dermatomal herpes zoster inflammation (shingles). Which of the following nerves was most likely responsible for the transmission of the virus in this case?
- Auriculotemporal
- Buccal
- Lesser petrosal
- Mental
- Infraorbital
The chin and lower lip area are supplied by the mental nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, which in turn is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. The auriculotemporal nerve supplies the TMJ, the temporal region, the parotid gland, and the ear. The buccal nerve is sensory to the internal surface of the cheek. The lesser petrosal nerve is a parasympathetic nerve and would not be affected by herpes zoster, a disease of the dorsal root ganglia. The infraorbital nerve provides sensory innervation to the upper lip.
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