CRANIAL NERVE V: TRIGEMINAL NERVE

• The Motor cell bodies are in the Masticator Nucleus within the pons.

V1 -- OPHTHALMIC NERVE -- Purely Sensory Nerve.

• It runs through the lateral wall of the Cavernous Sinus.
• It exits through Superior Orbital Fissure to enter the orbit.
• Associated Ganglion: CILIARY GANGLION. It carries parasympathetic motor fibers from the Oculomotor Nerve (CN III), which go on to innervate extrinsic eye muscles.

V2 -- MAXILLARY NERVE -- Purely Sensory Nerve.

• It runs through the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.
• It exits through Foramen Rotundum, in the Greater Wing of the Sphenoid.
• Associated Ganglion: PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION. It carries parasympathetic motor fibers from the Facial Nerve (CN VII), which goes on to innervate muscles of facial expression.

V3 -- MANDIBULAR NERVE-- Mixed nerve. The only branch of the Trigeminal to carry any motor innervation.

• It exits through Foramen Ovale, in the Greater Wing of the Sphenoid.
• Associated Ganglia:

• OTIC GANGLION: Carries parasympathetic motor fibers from the Glossopharyngeal Nerve (CN IX), which go on to innervate the Parotid Salivary Gland.
• It is located in the Infratemporal Fossa
• SUBMANDIBULAR GANGLION: Carries parasympathetic motor fibers from the Facial Nerve (CN VII), which go onto innervate the Submandibular and Sublingual glands.
• Motor Innervation: Muscles of mastication; Anterior belly of digastric and mylohyoid; Tensor tympani and tensor veli palati.
• Sensory Innervation: It sends up a meningeal branch to innervate part of the meninges.

TIC DOULOUREUX: A severe split second pain in the cutaneous region of the Trigeminal nerve.

• A pain runs through Mandibular and Maxillary divisions, i.e. region around mouth.

MENINGEAL BRANCHES: All branches of Trigeminal send some meningeal branches to the meninges of the brain. If something is irritating the meninges, the pain information will be sent back through the Trigeminal.

• In all cases, meningeal branch will be given off before each branch exits its respective foramen.

Category: Anatomy Notes