Anterior ethmoidal nerve

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Anterior ethmoidal nerve
Gray514.png
The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Nerve not pictured, but location is similar to artery.)
Details
From Nasociliary nerve
Identifiers
Latin nervus ethmoidalis anterior
TA98 A14.2.01.030
TA2 6208
FMA 52675
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The anterior ethmoidal nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1)). It arises in the orbit, and enters first the cranial cavity and then the nasal cavity. It provides sensory innervation to part of the meninges, parts of the nasal cavity, and part of the skin of the nose.

Contents

Structure

Origin

The anterior ethmoidal nerve is a terminal branch of the nasociliary nerve, a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). [1] It branches near the medial wall of the orbit.

Course

It passes through the anterior ethmoidal canal alongside the anterior ethmoidal artery [2] :780 and vein [2] :566 to emerge in anterior cranial fossa through the anterior ethmoidal foramen [2] :1464.e13 (at the junction of the cribiform plate of ethmoid bone and orbital part of frontal bone [2] :566).

Within the cranial cavity, it passes anterior-ward (external to the dura mater) along a groove upon the superior surface of the cribriform plate. It descends through an aperture situated lateral to the crista galli to reach the nasal cavity. [2] :1464.e13

In the nasal cavity, it passes along a groove upon the internal aspect of the nasal bone, and issuing the medial and lateral internal nasal branches. [2] :1464.e13

It is continued as the external nasal nerve beyond the inferior margin of the nasal bone. [2] :1464.e13

Distribution

Within the anterior cranial fossa, it gives sensory fibers to the meninges to provide sensory innervation to part of the meninges. [3]

Its medial internal nasal branch innervates the superior and anterior portions of the nasal septum. [2] :1464.e13

Its lateral internal nasal branch innervates the anterior portion of the lateral nasal wall. [2] :1464.e13

It gives off branches to the roof of the nasal cavity, and bifurcates into a lateral internal nasal branch and medial internal nasal branch. It sends sensory fibers to the anterior ethmoid air cells and the middle ethmoidal air cells.[ citation needed ]

Its terminal branch - the external nasal nerve - innervates skin of the nose between the nasal bones superiorly and the tip of the nose inferiorly, except the alar portionsurrounding the external nares. [2] :1464.e13

Function

It is involved in the diving reflex. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paranasal sinuses</span> Air-filled spaces surrounding the nasal cavity

Paranasal sinuses are a group of four paired air-filled spaces that surround the nasal cavity. The maxillary sinuses are located under the eyes; the frontal sinuses are above the eyes; the ethmoidal sinuses are between the eyes and the sphenoidal sinuses are behind the eyes. The sinuses are named for the facial bones and sphenoid bone in which they are located. Their role is disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial nerve</span> Cranial nerve VII, for the face and tasting

The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. The nerve typically travels from the pons through the facial canal in the temporal bone and exits the skull at the stylomastoid foramen. It arises from the brainstem from an area posterior to the cranial nerve VI and anterior to cranial nerve VIII.

Articles related to anatomy include:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethmoid bone</span> Bone of the facial skeleton

The ethmoid bone is an unpaired bone in the skull that separates the nasal cavity from the brain. It is located at the roof of the nose, between the two orbits. The cubical bone is lightweight due to a spongy construction. The ethmoid bone is one of the bones that make up the orbit of the eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasal cavity</span> Large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face

The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind the nose in the middle of the face. The nasal septum divides the cavity into two cavities, also known as fossae. Each cavity is the continuation of one of the two nostrils. The nasal cavity is the uppermost part of the respiratory system and provides the nasal passage for inhaled air from the nostrils to the nasopharynx and rest of the respiratory tract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orbit (anatomy)</span> Cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated

In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket/hole of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents. In the adult human, the volume of the orbit is 30 millilitres, of which the eye occupies 6.5 ml. The orbital contents comprise the eye, the orbital and retrobulbar fascia, extraocular muscles, cranial nerves II, III, IV, V, and VI, blood vessels, fat, the lacrimal gland with its sac and duct, the eyelids, medial and lateral palpebral ligaments, cheek ligaments, the suspensory ligament, septum, ciliary ganglion and short ciliary nerves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophthalmic artery</span> Artery of the head

The ophthalmic artery (OA) is an artery of the head. It is the first branch of the internal carotid artery distal to the cavernous sinus. Branches of the ophthalmic artery supply all the structures in the orbit around the eye, as well as some structures in the nose, face, and meninges. Occlusion of the ophthalmic artery or its branches can produce sight-threatening conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orbital part of frontal bone</span>

The orbital or horizontal part of the frontal bone consists of two thin triangular plates, the orbital plates, which form the vaults of the orbits, and are separated from one another by a median gap, the ethmoidal notch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethmoid sinus</span> Air-filled space near the nasal cavity

The ethmoid sinuses or ethmoid air cells of the ethmoid bone are one of the four paired paranasal sinuses. Unlike the other three pairs of paranasal sinuses which consist of one or two large cavities, the ethmoidal sinuses entail a number of small air-filled cavities. The cells are located within the lateral mass (labyrinth) of each ethmoid bone and are variable in both size and number. The cells are grouped into anterior, middle, and posterior groups; the groups differ in their drainage modalities, though all ultimately drain into either the superior or the middle nasal meatus of the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ophthalmic nerve</span> Sensory nerve of the face

The ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) is a sensory nerve of the head. It is one of three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), a cranial nerve. It has three major branches which provide sensory innervation to the eye, and the skin of the upper face and anterior scalp, as well as other structures of the head.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethmoidal labyrinth</span>

The ethmoidal labyrinth or lateral mass of the ethmoid bone consists of a number of thin-walled cellular cavities, the ethmoid air cells, arranged in three groups, anterior, middle, and posterior, and interposed between two vertical plates of bone; the lateral plate forms part of the orbit, the medial plate forms part of the nasal cavity. In the disarticulated bone many of these cells are opened into, but when the bones are articulated, they are closed in at every part, except where they open into the nasal cavity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior ethmoidal artery</span>

The anterior ethmoidal artery is a branch of the ophthalmic artery in the orbit. It exits the orbit through the anterior ethmoidal foramen alongside the anterior ethmoidal nerve. It contributes blood supply to the ethmoid sinuses, frontal sinuses, the dura mater, lateral nasal wall, and nasal septum. It issues a meningeal branch, and nasal branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">External nasal nerve</span>

The external nasal nerve is the terminal branch of the anterior ethmoidal nerve. The external nasal nerve passes inferior-ward through the lateral nasal wall. It provides sensory innervation to the area of skin of the nose between the nasal bones superiorly and the tip of the nose inferiorly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle cranial fossa</span>

The middle cranial fossa is formed by the sphenoid bones, and the temporal bones. It lodges the temporal lobes, and the pituitary gland. It is deeper than the anterior cranial fossa, is narrow medially and widens laterally to the sides of the skull. It is separated from the posterior cranial fossa by the clivus and the petrous crest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anterior cranial fossa</span>

The anterior cranial fossa is a depression in the floor of the cranial base which houses the projecting frontal lobes of the brain. It is formed by the orbital plates of the frontal, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and the small wings and front part of the body of the sphenoid; it is limited behind by the posterior borders of the small wings of the sphenoid and by the anterior margin of the chiasmatic groove. The lesser wings of the sphenoid separate the anterior and middle fossae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Posterior ethmoidal nerve</span> Nerve of the orbit around the eye

The posterior ethmoidal nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)). It provides sensory innervation to the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus, and part of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Body of sphenoid bone</span>

The body of the sphenoid bone, more or less cubical in shape, is hollowed out in its interior to form two large cavities, the sphenoidal sinuses, which are separated from each other by a septum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human nose</span> Feature of the human face

The human nose is the first organ of the respiratory system. It is also the principal organ in the olfactory system. The shape of the nose is determined by the nasal bones and the nasal cartilages, including the nasal septum, which separates the nostrils and divides the nasal cavity into two.

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

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:

References

  1. Lucier, Gregory E.; Egizii, Rita (1986). "Central projections of the ethmoidal nerve of the cat as determined by the horseradish peroxidase tracer technique". Journal of Comparative Neurology . 247 (1): 123–132. doi:10.1002/cne.902470108. ISSN   1096-9861. PMID   3711374. S2CID   23040741.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York. ISBN   978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC   1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. Shimizu, Toshihiko; Suzuki, Norihiro (2010). "3 - Biological sciences related to headache". Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vol. 97. Elsevier. pp. 35–45. doi:10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97003-6. ISBN   978-0-444-52139-2. ISSN   0072-9752. PMID   20816409.
  4. Rybka, E. J.; McCulloch, P. F. (23 February 2006). "The anterior ethmoidal nerve is necessary for the initiation of the nasopharyngeal response in the rat". Brain Research . 1075 (1): 122–132. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2005.12.112. ISSN   0006-8993. PMID   16466647. S2CID   37900942.