Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The auriculotemporal nerve is commonly misrepresented in both illustrations and textual descriptions. Our 85 dissections of the nerve demonstrate that the roots of the “typical” auriculotemporal nerve do not form a tight “buttonhole” loop around the middle meningeal artery. Instead the roots outline an elongated V‐shaped interval with the roots widely separated from one another. At their junction the roots form a short trunk which immediately breaks up in line with the posterior border of the mandible into a spray of branches. The superficial temporal ramus of the auriculotemporal nerve should not be considered as the main continuation of the nerve, but merely as its largest branch. A substantial portion of the nerve makes up its two communicating rami with the facial nerve; these are the strongest and most consistent of the many peripheral communications between trigeminal and facial nerves. Common variations in configuration, branching, and relationships of the nerve are included.</jats:p>