Nasociliary nerve

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Nasociliary nerve
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Nerves of the orbit, and the ciliary ganglion. Side view. (Nasociliary is at center.)
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Nerves of septum of nose. Right side. (Nasociliary is rightmost yellow line.)
Details
From Ophthalmic nerve
To Posterior ethmoidal nerve, anterior ethmoidal nerve, long ciliary nerves, infratrochlear nerve, communicating branch to ciliary ganglion
Identifiers
Latin nervus nasociliaris
TA98 A14.2.01.025
TA2 6204
FMA 52668
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The nasociliary nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) (which is in turn a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). It is intermediate in size between the other two branches of the ophthalmic nerve, the frontal nerve and lacrimal nerve. [1]

Contents

Structure

Course

The nasociliary nerve enters the orbit via the superior orbital fissure,[ citation needed ] through the common tendinous ring, [1] and between the two heads of the lateral rectus muscle and between the superior and inferior rami of the oculomotor nerve.[ citation needed ] It passes across the optic nerve (CN II) along with the ophthalmic artery. It then runs obliquely beneath (inferior to) the superior rectus muscle and superior oblique muscle to the medial wall of the orbital cavity whereupon it emits the posterior ethmoidal nerve, and the anterior ethmoidal nerve. [1]

Branches

Branches of the nasociliary nerve include: [1]

Function

The branches of the nasociliary nerve provide sensory innervation to structures surrounding the eye such as the cornea, eyelids, conjunctiva, ethmoid air cells and mucosa of the nasal cavity.[ citation needed ]

Clinical significance

Clinical assessment

Since both the short and long ciliary nerves carry the afferent limb of the corneal reflex, one can test the integrity of the nasociliary nerve (and, ultimately, the trigeminal nerve) by examining this reflex in the patient. Normally both eyes should blink when either cornea (not the conjunctiva, which is supplied by the adjacent cutaneous nerves) is irritated. If neither eye blinks, then either the ipsilateral nasociliary nerve is damaged, or the facial nerve (CN VII, which carries the efferent limb of this reflex) is bilaterally damaged. If only the contralateral eye blinks, then the ipsilateral facial nerve is damaged. If only the ipsilateral eye blinks, then the contralateral facial nerve is damaged.[ citation needed ]

Additional images

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacrimal nerve</span> Branch of the ophthalmic nerve

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supratrochlear nerve</span> Nerve of the forehead

The supratrochlear nerve is a branch of the frontal nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long ciliary nerves</span> Nerves that arise from the nasociliary nerve

The long ciliary nerves are 2-3 nerves that arise from the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic branch (CN V1) of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). They enter the eyeball to provide sensory innervation to parts of the eye, and sympathetic visceral motor innervation to the dilator pupillae muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Short ciliary nerves</span> Nerves of the orbit around the eye

The short ciliary nerves are nerves of the orbit around the eye. They are branches of the ciliary ganglion. They supply parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve fibers to the ciliary muscle, iris, and cornea. Damage to the short ciliary nerve may result in loss of the pupillary light reflex, or mydriasis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of human anatomy</span> Overview of and topical guide to human anatomy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roots of the ciliary ganglion</span>

The ciliary ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion located just behind the eye in the posterior orbit. Three types of axons enter the ciliary ganglion but only the preganglionic parasympathetic axons synapse there. The entering axons are arranged into three roots of the ciliary ganglion, which join enter the posterior surface of the ganglion.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York. p. 782. ISBN   978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC   1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

PD-icon.svgThis article incorporates text in the public domain from page 888 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)