What Is the Lingual Nerve?
The lingual nerve is the sensory nerve that provides information in the form of taste to approximately the front two-thirds of the tongue. It also innervates — or provides nerves to — part of the floor of the mouth, allowing for the perception of temperature, pain, and other sensations. The lingual nerve is part of the mandibular nerve, which innervates a significant part of the human jaw area. The mandibular nerve is itself a part of the trigeminal nerve, which provides sensation in the human face. The back of the tongue is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve while the larynx and throat process their sensory information through yet another nerve.
