Quick Facts
Origin: Maxillary nerve.
Course: Runs inferiorly and anteriorly from its origin towards the posterior wall of the maxilla. It wraps laterally and anteriorly along the maxillary tuberosity.
Branches: None.
Supply: Conveys general sensation from the posterior maxillary sinus, gums, and molar teeth of the maxilla.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The posterior superior alveolar nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve that emerges in the superior portion of the pterygopalatine fossa. It typically comes off the maxillary nerve itself, although a delayed branching can result in the posterior superior alveolar nerve emerging off the infraorbital nerve instead.
Course
From its origin, the posterior superior alveolar nerve runs down the posterior wall of the maxilla, over the maxillary tuberosity.
Branches
There are no named branches.
Supplied Structures
The posterior superior alveolar nerve is a sensory nerve that conveys general sensation from the mucosa of the posterior maxillary sinus, the gums overlaying the maxillary tuberosity, and the maxillary molars and buccal gingiva.
