trigeminal nerve

n. Either of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, being the chief sensory nerve of the face and the motor nerve of the muscles of chewing and having sensory and motor functions in the teeth, mouth, and nasal cavity. Also called trigeminus.

trigeminal nerve

n (Anatomy) anatomy either one of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, which supply the muscles of the mandible and maxilla. Their ophthalmic branches supply the area around the orbit of the eye, the nasal cavity, and the forehead

trigem′inal nerve′

n. either of the fifth pair of vertebrate cranial nerves that innervate the jaw muscles and head region. [1825–35]

Thesaurus

Noun

trigeminal nerve - the main sensory nerve of the face and motor nerve for the muscles of masticationfifth cranial nerve, nervus trigeminus, trigeminal, trigeminuscranial nerve - any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem

Trigeminal Nerve

trigeminal nerve

[trī′jem·ə·nəl ′nərv] (neuroscience) The fifth cranial nerve in vertebrates; either of a pair of composite nerves rising from the side of the medulla, and with three great branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves.

Trigeminal Nerve

the fifth pair of cranial nerves. It contains sensory, motor, and autonomic fibers.

The nuclei of the trigeminal nerve are located in the brain stem. The fibers of the trigeminal nerve that constitute the larger, or posterior, root pass from the brain stem to the apex of the temporal bone, where the trigeminal ganglion is located. Three branches depart from the trigeminal ganglion, as follows. The ophthalmic (sensory) nerve leaves the skull through the superior orbital fissure and innervates the upper eyelids, the conjunctiva, the skin of the forehead, and the anterior part of the scalp. The superior maxillary (sensory) nerve leaves the skull through the foramen rotundum, enters the pterygopalatine fossa, and innervates the skin of the lower lid, the cheek and nose, the mucosa of the nasal cavity, and the upper jaw. The inferior maxillary nerve (which is joined to the smaller, or anterior, root of the trigeminal nerve, containing the motor fibers) leaves the skull through the foramen ovale and innervates the skin of the lower part of the face, the mucosa of the cheeks and tongue, the lower jaw, and the muscles of mastication.

The trigeminal nerve takes part in many reflexes, including the corneal and mandibular (jaw) reflex. The most common disease of the trigeminal nerve is neuralgia, manifested by attacks of acute pain in the zone of innervation. Other diseases of the trigeminal nerve, including neuritis and infection with the virus of herpes zoster, are accompanied by sensory and motor disturbances in the zone of innervation.

V. A. KARLOV

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal

[tri-jem´ĭ-nal] triple.pertaining to the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve).trigeminal nerve the fifth cranial nerve; it arises in the pons, is composed of sensory and motor fibers, and has three divisions: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular. (See anatomic Table of Nerves in the Appendices.) The ophthalmic division supplies sensory fibers to the skin of the upper eyelid, side of the nose, forehead, and anterior half of the scalp. The maxillary division carries sensory impulses from the mucous membranes of the nose, the skin of the cheek and side of the forehead, and the upper lip and upper teeth. The mandibular division carries sensory impulses from the side of the head, chin, mucous membrane of the mouth, lower teeth, and anterior two-thirds of the tongue. (This nerve is sometimes called the great sensory nerve of the head.) The motor fibers are part of the mandibular branch and supply several of the muscles of chewing. Neuralgia of this nerve is the condition known as tic douloureux.

Areas of innervation by each of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.

trigeminal nerve

The 5th of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and the sensory nerve of the face. Each trigeminal nerve divides into three main branches, the ophthalmic, the maxillary and the mandibular nerves, which then branch to supply the corresponding parts of the face.

trigeminal nerve

the fifth cranial nerve of vertebrates, usually possessing opthalmic, mandibular and maxillary branches.

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal nerve

trigem′inal nerve′

Trigeminal Nerve

trigeminal nerve

Trigeminal Nerve

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal nerve

trigeminal nerve

Synonyms for trigeminal nerve

noun the main sensory nerve of the face and motor nerve for the muscles of mastication

Synonyms

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