ANATOMY OF HEAD AND NECK

Dr. Khaled Hassan

Lecturer of Oral Surgery
MIU
 THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE (V)
 7.1 Functions
 The trigeminal nerve transmits sensation from the skin of
 the anterior part of the head, the oral and nasal cavities, the teeth
 and the meninges. It has three divisions (ophthalmic, maxillary and
 mandibular) subsequently treated as separate nerves. Its mandibular
 division also carries motor fibres to muscles used in chewing.
 7.2 Attachment, course, divisions (Fig. 7.1)
 • Attached to lateral aspect of pons, near middle cerebellar
 peduncle.
 • Passes below tentorium cerebelli, to middle cranial fossa.
 • Trigeminal (sensory) ganglion in depression on temporal bone.
 • Splits into ophthalmic (Va), maxillary (Vb) and mandibular (Vc).
 7.3 Trigeminal ganglion
 • It contains cell bodies of primary sensory neurons in all three
 divisions of trigeminal nerve, except those of proprioceptive
 neurons (see Chapter 4).
 • It is partially surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid in recess of subarachnoid
 space: trigeminal, or Meckel’s, cave.
 THE MAXILLARY NERVE (Vb)
 9.1 Functions
 The maxillary nerve transmits sensory fibres from
 the skin of the face between the palpebral fissure and the
 mouth, from the nasal cavity and sinuses, and from the maxillary
 teeth.
 At its origin it contains only sensory fibres. Some of its branches
 transmit postganglionic parasympathetic fibres from the pterygopalatine
 ganglion which pass to the lacrimal, nasal and palatine
 glands (see Section 17.3), and others convey taste (visceral sensory)
 fibres from the palate to the nucleus of the solitary tract (see
 Section 17.4).
 9.2 Origin, course and branches (Fig. 9.1)
 • originates from trigeminal ganglion in middle cranial fossa;
 • passes in lower part of lateral wall of cavernous sinus;
 • meningeal branch (middle cranial fossa – sensory);
 • foramen rotundum, to;
 • pterygopalatine fossa which divides into main branches, infraorbital
 and zygomatic, and gives other branches to nose, palate and
 upper teeth.