Damage to the lingual nerve during the removal of a mandibular third molar is most likely to cause which deficit?
- Correct answer
Altered sensation and taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue on the same side
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Numbness of the lower lip and chin on the same side
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Deviation of the protruded tongue toward the injured side
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Loss of taste on the posterior third of the tongue
This question is one of 15 in AFK practice: Oral surgery, trauma and orofacial pain. Test yourself on all of them.
Practice quiz FlashcardsExplanations
The lingual nerve carries general sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, as well as taste fibres from the chorda tympani. Lower lip and chin numbness points to inferior alveolar (mental) nerve injury, and tongue deviation points to hypoglossal nerve injury.
Source: Hupp, Ellis and Tucker, Contemporary Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery — oneguy
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