Long ciliary nerves

Long ciliary nerves
Nerves of the orbit, and the ciliary ganglion. Side view.
Details
From	Nasociliary nerve
Innervates	Cornea, iris, and ciliary body
Fiber type	"Somatosensory" (via V1 Lacrimal), and "Sympathetic" (via V2 Zygomatic)
Identifiers
Latin	nervi ciliares longi
TA98	A14.2.01.027
TA2	6206
FMA	52691
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [ edit on Wikidata]

The long ciliary nerves are two-three sensory nerves that arise from the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic branch (CN V₁) of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). ^[1] They pass forward within the orbit, passing toward the eyeball alongside the optic nerve (CN II). ^[2] They enter the eyeball to provide sensory innervation to the cornea, iris, and ciliary body. ^[3] They also provide sympathetic visceral motor innervation to the dilator pupillae muscle, which is responsible for dilation of the pupil. ^[4] The long ciliary nerves are clinically relevant in conditions affecting corneal sensitivity, pupillary responses, and surgical procedures involving the eye. ^[5]

Anatomy

Origin

The long ciliary nerves branch from the nasociliary nerve as it crosses the optic nerve (CN II). ^[1]

Course

Accompanied by the short ciliary nerves, the long ciliary nerves pierce and enter ^[1] the posterior part of^{[ citation needed ]} the sclera near where it is entered by the optic nerve, then run anterior-ward between the sclera and the choroid. ^[1]

Function

The long ciliary nerves are distributed to the ciliary body, iris, and cornea. ^[1]

Sensory

The long ciliary nerves provide sensory innervation to the eyeball, including the cornea. ^[6]

Sympathetic

The long ciliary nerves contain post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion for the dilator pupillae muscle. ^[1] The sympathetic fibers to the dilator pupillae muscle mainly travel in the nasociliary nerve but there are also sympathetic fibers in the short ciliary nerves that pass through the ciliary ganglion without forming synapses.^{[ citation needed ]}

See also

• Short ciliary nerves

Additional images

• 
  Pathways in the ciliary ganglion.

References

1. Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42nd ed.). New York. p. 783. ISBN   978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC   1201341621.
2. Ansari, Mohammad Wakeel; Nadeem, Ahmed (2016). "Atlas of Ocular Anatomy". Ocular Anatomy. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-42781-2.
3. Levin, Leonard A.; Kaufman, Paul L.; Hartnett, Mary Elizabeth (2024). Adler's physiology of the eye (12th ed.). Chantilly: Elsevier. ISBN   978-0-323-83407-0.
4. Wu, Feipeng; Zhao, Yin; Zhang, Hong (2022-01-14). "Ocular Autonomic Nervous System: An Update from Anatomy to Physiological Functions". Vision. 6 (1): 6. doi:10.3390/vision6010006. ISSN   2411-5150. PMC   8788436 . PMID   35076641.
5. Lum, Edward; Corbett, Melanie C.; Murphy, Paul J. (July 2019). "Corneal Sensitivity After Ocular Surgery". Eye & Contact Lens: Science & Clinical Practice. 45 (4): 226–237. doi:10.1097/ICL.0000000000000543. ISSN   1542-2321.
6. Yang, Alina Y.; Chow, Jessica; Liu, Ji (March 2018). "Corneal Innervation and Sensation: The Eye and Beyond". The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 91 (1): 13–21. ISSN   1551-4056. PMC   5872636 . PMID   29599653.

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 888 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)