A cause of entrapment of the lingual nerve: ossified pterygospinous ligament – a case report

The ossification of pterygospinous ligament forms the pterygospinous bony bridge and pterygospinous foramen.In existence of bony bridge, some branches of the mandibular nerve may run through the pterygospinousforamen. In this case, the entrapment of the nerve may occur. During routine dissection of a male cadaverthat had been fixed with 10% formaldehyde solution, unusual course of the lingual nerve was encountered.The pterygospinous bony bridge passed among the fibers of the lingual nerve and it divided it into two partsas anterior and posterior. The anterior fibers lied between tensor veli palatini and medial pterygoid muscles,and the bony bridge, vulnerable to the risk of compression. The ossified pterygospinous ligament may causemandibular neuralgia. Besides, it can act as an obstacle for the mandibular nerve block.