1. Trigeminal nerve
Domina Petric, MD

2. Trigeminal nerve has two roots:
Introduction
radix sensoria (larger part)
radix motoria
Trigeminal nerve has two roots:

3. Radix sensoria (sensorineural root)
General sensation (pain, temperature, touch):
face
scalp
teeth
oral and nasal cavity
dura mater

4. Radix sensoria (sensorineural root)
Proprioceptive sensation from the muscles innervated by motor root and from temporomandibular joint.

5. Trigeminal nerve nuclei
nucleus motorius n. trigemini (special visceral efferent fibres)
nucleus principalis n. trigemini (general somatic afferent fibres)
nucleus spinalis n. trigemini (general somatic afferent fibres)
nucleus mesencephalicus n. trigemini (general somatic afferent)

6. Ganglion trigeminale (ganglion semilunare)
Cavum trigeminale
Ganglion trigeminale (ganglion semilunare) V1 V2 V3

7. Image source:
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8. V1: n. ophtalmicus The smallest part of the trigeminal nerve.
It has only sensation fibres for:
eye socket, lacrimal gland
eye conjunctiva, part of nasal mucosa
nose skin, eyelids, forehead and part of the scalp

9. V1 branches V1: n. ophtalmicus
n. lacrimalis
(communicates with zygomatical nerve)
n. frontalis divides on n. supratrochlearis and n. supraorbitalis
n. nasociliaris divides on r. communicans cum ganglio ciliari, n. ethmoidalis posterior et anteriror, n. infratrochlearis

10. Anatomymcqs.com
Image source:

11. V2: n. maxillaris Sensory fibres only!
It has branches in the cranial cavity and pterygopalatinal fossa:
r. meningeus (innervates dura mater of the middle cranial fossa)
rr. ganglionares ad ganglion pterygopalatinum (sensory root for pterygopalatinal ganglion, radix sensoria ganglii pterygopalatini )

12. Ganglion pterygopalatinum
The largest peripheral parasympathetic ganglion.
It is located in fossa pterygopalatina near the foramen sphenopalatinum.
It has three roots: parasympathetic, sympathetic and sensory root.

13. V2: n. maxillaris Other branches are: in the pterygopalatinal fossa
n. zygomaticus, rr. alveolares superiores posteriores
in the infraorbital canal
r. alveolaris superior medius, rr. alveolares superiores anteriores
on the face
n. infraorbitalis

14. V2: n. maxillaris Sensory innervation of:
cheek, lower eyelid, lateral part of the nose
upper lip, teeth and maxillary mucosa
sphenoidal and maxillary sinus
posterior ethmoidal cells

15. V2: n. maxillaris upper and middle nasal concha
palate and palatine tonsil
pharyngeal roof
dura mater of the middle cranial fossa

16. Anatomymcqs.com
Image source:

17. It has two trunks: anterior and posterior.
V3: n. mandibularis
The largest branch of the trigeminal nerve with sensory and motor fibres.
It has two trunks: anterior and posterior.

18. V3: n. mandibularis
Before it divides into two trunks, mandibular nerve gives some branches:
r. meningeus (sensory innervation of middle cranial fossa dura mater and mastoidal cells)

19. V3: n. mandibularis
n. pterygoideus medialis (motor innervation of medial pterygoideal muscle)
rr. ganglionares ad ganglion oticum (sensory fibres that create radix sensoria ganglii otici )

20. Anterior trunk of the V3
n. buccalis (sensory innervation of the cheek mucosa and skin)
n. massetericus (motor innervation of musculus masseter and temporomandibular joint)
nn. temporales profundi (motor innervation of m. temporalis)
n. pterygoideus lateralis (motor innervation of lateral pterygoideal muscle)

21. Posterior trunk of the V3
n. auriculotemporalis
n. lingualis
n. alveolaris inferior

22. N. auriculotemporalis
innervates glandula parotis (parasympathetic fibres for parotid gland)
n. meatus acustici externi
r. membranae tympani
nn. auriculares anteriores
rr. temporales superficiales
rr. parotidei
rr. communicantes cum nervo faciale
sensory
fibres

23. N. lingualis rr. isthmi faucium n. sublingualis rr. linguales
rr. ganglionares ad ganglion submandibulare (radix sensoria ganglii submandibularis)
rr. ganglionares ad ganglion sublinguale (radix sensoria ganglii sublingualis)
sensory
fibres

24. N. alveolaris inferior Sensory fibres are:
n. mentalis (rr. mentales, rr. labiales, rr. gingivales)
rr. dentales et gingivales inferiores (plexus dentalis inferior)
Motor branch is N. mylohyoideus: motor innervation for mylohyoideal muscle and anterior belly of digastric muscle.

25. Anatomymcqs.com

26. Literature: Anatomymcqs.com
Krmpotić-Nemanić J. Marušić A. Anatomija čovjeka, Medicinska naklada, Zagreb, 2007.