Trigeminal Nerve Anatomy

Question. Describe the Trigeminal Nerve under the following headings:

1. Trigeminal Nerve functional components,
2. Trigeminal Nerve Origin and course,
3. Trigeminal Nerve Distribution and
4. Trigeminal Nerve Applied anatomy.

Answer.  The trigeminal nerve is a mixed nerve but mainly sensory.

Trigeminal Nerve Functional Components

Read And Learn More: Selective Anatomy Notes And Question And Answers

• Special visceral efferent (SVE) fibres to muscles of mastication.
• General somatic afferent (GSA) fibres to carry:
  • Pain and temperature sensations from the head and face
  • Proprioceptive sensations from the muscles of mastication

Trigeminal Nerve Origin And Course It arises from two roots:

• The large sensory root arises from the sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve located in the brainstem and upper part of the spinal cord.
• The small motor root arises from the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve located in the pons.

The sensory and motor roots emerge from the anterior surface of the pons, the motor root lying medial to the sensory root. After emerging from the brainstem, the nerve passes upwards, forward and laterally in the posterior cranial fossa.

On reaching the depression on the apex of the petrous temporal bone in the middle cranial fossa, it expands to form the trigeminal ganglion. (Remember motor root passes deep to the ganglion, whereas the sensory root forms the ganglion.)

The anterior border of the trigeminal ganglion gives rise to three divisions of the trigeminal nerve:

• Ophthalmic division: It is purely sensory and enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.
• Maxillary division: It is purely sensory and enters the pterygopalatine fossa through the foramen rotundum.
• Mandibular division: It enters the infratemporal fossa through foramen ovale. It is joined by the motor root (which also passes through the foramen ovale) just below this foramen. Hence, it is both sensory and motor.

Trigeminal Nerve Distribution

Sensory distribution:

• Most of the skin of the head and face
• The mucous membrane of nasal cavities, oral cavity and paranasal air sinuses
• The teeth of both jaws
• Cornea and conjunctiva of the eye

Motor distribution: Muscles of the mastication

Trigeminal Nerve Applied anatomy

Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux): A clinical condition characterized by intermittent attacks of severe lancinating pain in the region of sensory distribution of one or more divisions of trigeminal nerve in the face, usually the 2nd and 3rd divisions.

Question: Write a short note on the nuclei of the trigeminal nerve.

Answer. The trigeminal nerve has the following four nuclei:

• The principal sensory nucleus lies in the dorsolateral region of the tegmentum of the upper part of the pons lateral to the motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve. It receives all sensory fibres of the trigeminal nerve.
• The mesencephalic nucleus lies in the midbrain above the main sensory nucleus. It receives proprioceptive impulses from muscles of mastication, TMJ and teeth.
• The spinal nucleus lies in the spinal cord below the main sensory nucleus. It receives pain and temperature sensations from the face.
• The motor nucleus lies in the upper part of the bones. It gives motor fibres to muscles of mastication.

Mandibular Nerve Origin and course

The mandibular nerve is the largest division of trigeminal nerve. It arises from the trigeminal ganglion and enters the infratemporal fossa through foramen ovale. In the foramen ovale, it is joined by the small motor root of the trigeminal nerve, and thus emerges from the skull as a mixed nerve. After emerging from foramen ovale, it divides almost immediately into the anterior and posterior divisions.

Mandibular Nerve Branches and distribution

From the trunk

• Meningeal branch (nervus spinosus), which enters the skull through foramen spinosum and supplies the dura mater.
• Nerve to medial pterygoid, it passes through otic ganglion and supplies the medial pterygoid muscle. In addition to it, it also supplies twigs to the tensor palati and tensor tympani muscles.

From the anterior division

• Muscular branches to the temporalis (deep temporal nerves), masseter (masseteric nerve) and nerve to the lateral pterygoid.
• Buccal nerve (sensory to the skin and mucosa of the cheek).

From the posterior division

• Auriculotemporal nerve (sensory to the auricle and temple).
• Lingual nerve (sensory to the anterior two-third of tongue).
• Inferior alveolar nerve: Gives the mylohyoid nerve and then enters into the mandibular canal to supply sensory fibres to the lower teeth and gums. It gives mental nerve, which supplies the skin of the chin, and skin and mucosa of the lower lip.

Note: The nerve to mylohyoid supplies mylohyoid muscle and anterior belly of digastric.