Anatomy Bones and Muscles · MU Pleven

170. Ophthalmic nerve.

Explains the ophthalmic nerve, the purely sensory upper branch of the trigeminal ganglion, and the structures it supplies, including the orbit, nasal cavity and anterior cranial fossa dura. Walks through its course through the cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure, then its three divisions: frontal, lacrimal and nasociliary, with the frontal nerve's terminal branches and the nasociliary nerve's own branches.

Inside: 3 sections · 3 labelled pictures · 10 flashcards · 2 min

Topic 169 of 236 in the MU Pleven syllabus for Anatomy Bones and Muscles (Medicine, Year 2). The free AceMed note covers it in 3 sections, about 285 words (2 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. OPHTHALMIC NERVE [VI]
  2. Course
  3. Divisions :

OPHTHALMIC NERVE [VI]

  • The ophthalmic nerve is the most superior branch of the trigeminal ganglion, and it is exclusively sensory.
  • It innervates the upper parts of the face:
  1. 1. The eyes, orbital contents.
  2. 2. Nasal cavity.
  3. 3. Dura matter of the anterior cranial fossa.
  4. 4....
  • Has only sensory innervation.

Course

After the ophthalmic nerve. arises from the trigeminal ganglion, it passes forward in the dura of the cavernous sinus. leaves the cranial cavity, and enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.

  • Cavernous Sinus :

= dural venous sinus .

  • Contains :

(Ophthalmic n. + III C.N + IV C.N) In the lateral wall

(VI C.N + Internal carotid a.) In the cavity.

Divisions :

Just before leaves the cavernous sinus it divides into 3 branches (=receives 3 fibers)

  1. 1. Frontal n. :
  • the thickest branch of the ophthalmic n.
  • It course forward, directly beneath the roof of the orbit.
  • Inside the orbit, the nerve divides into 2 terminal branches:
  1. 1.1 Supraorbital n. - Passes through the supraorbital notch before goes up to the forehead & splits into the lateral & medial branches.
  2. 2.1 Supratrochlear n.
  3. 2. Lacrimal nerve :
  • Goes along the roof of the orbit & travels towards the lacrimal gland.
  1. 3. Nasociliary nerve :
  • runs from the lateral part of the orbit to its medial wall.
  • Has several important branches of its own :
  1. 1.3. Communicating br. - enters the ciliary ganglion.
  2. 2.3 Anterior Ethmoidal br. - Innervates the mucosa of the posterior ethmoidal air cells.
  3. 3.3 Posterior n . n - ,, ,, ant. ethmoidal air cells.
  4. 4.3 Long Ciliary Nerves: supply sensory fibers to the eyeball, including the cornea.
  5. 5.3 Infratrochlear n. - Innervates the skin of the lave eyelid and the side of the nose.

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