Trigeminal Nerve

Question 1

What are the 3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve

Answer 1

Opthalmic nerve - Va
Maxillary nerve - Vb
Mandibular nerve - Vc

Question 2

What are the exit points of each division of the trigeminal nerve

Answer 2

Va - supra-orbital notch (foramen)
Vb - intra-orbital foramen
VF - Mental foramen

Question 3

What bones compose the hard palate

Answer 3

Maxilla

Palatine

Question 4

Where does the trigeminal pass through the soft palate

Answer 4

Incisive foramen
Greater palatine foramen (paired)
Lesser palatine foramen (paired)

Question 5

What are the processes of the mandible

Answer 5

Coronoid process

Condylar process

Question 6

Where does the trigeminal nerve emerge from the brain

Answer 6

The pons

Question 7

How many roots does the trigeminal nerve have

Answer 7

2 - sensory and motor

Question 8

Describe the information coming from the motor nucleus of the trigeminal and where does it go

Answer 8

Special visceral efferent information to the muscles of mastication

Question 9

Describe the information going to the sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve

Answer 9

General somatic afferent

Question 10

What are the different sensory nuclei of the trigeminal nerve and where in the brainstem are they found

Answer 10

Mesencephalic nucleus in the midbrain
Chief sensory nucleus in the pons
Spinal nucleus in the medulla

Question 11

What is the function of the mesencephalic nucleus

Answer 11

Proprioception

Question 12

What is the function of the chief sensory nucleus

Answer 12

Discriminative touch

Question 13

What is the function of the spinal nucleus

Answer 13

Pain and temperature for structures supplied by the trigeminal as well as general conscious sensation for the viscera supplied by the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves

Question 14

Where do the trigeminal nerve roots travel

Answer 14

Emerge from the mid-pons and pass forwards onto the apex of the patrols temporal bone where the trigeminal ganglion lies in a cave of dura mater (Meckel’s cave)

Question 15

What is Meckel’s cave

Answer 15

A cave in the dura mater where the trigeminal ganglion is found

Question 16

Where does CN Va pass from the trigeminal ganglion

Answer 16

Anteriorly in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus to reach the superior orbital fissure

Question 17

Where does CN Vb pass from the trigeminal ganglion

Answer 17

Anteriorly in the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus to reach the pterygopalatine fossa via the foramen rotundum

Question 18

Where does CN Vc pass from the trigeminal ganglion

Answer 18

Through the foramen ovale

Question 19

If all 3 divisions of the trigeminal nerve are affected by a lesion, where must it be

Answer 19

In the pons - stroke

At the cranial base - trauma or tumour

Question 20

Which other nerves are commonly affected if there is a problem in the trigeminal nerve

Answer 20

CN III and CN IV

Question 21

What are the main branches of the opthalmic division of the trigeminal

Answer 21

Frontal
Lacrimal
Nasociliary

Question 22

Describe the path of the frontal nerve and what it supplies

Answer 22

Divides into the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves which supply the skin of the vertex and upper eyelid and forehead

Question 23

What does the lacrimal nerve supply

Answer 23

The lacrimal gland, skin of the upper eyelid and forehead

Question 24

What does the nasociliary nerve branch into and what does this supply

Answer 24

Gives off long ciliary nerves - anterior and posterior ethmoidal nerves, before continuing as the infratrochlear nerve which supplies the skin of the medial upper eyelid and root of the nose
Anterior ethmoidal nerve continues into the external nasal nerve

Question 25

What supplies the vertex, forehead and upper eyelids

Answer 25

The supratrochlear, supraorbital and lacrimal nerves

Question 26

What supplies the skin at the medial angle of the eye and the root of the nose

Answer 26

The infratrochlear nerve

Question 27

What supplies the skin at the tip of the nose

Answer 27

The external nasal nerve

Question 28

What does the ethmoidal nerve supply

Answer 28

The ethmoidal sinuses
The lateral wall of the nasal cavity
The nasal septum

Question 29

Where is the pterygopalatine fossa found

Answer 29

Lateral to the upper aspect of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, behind the orbit and above the hard/soft palate

Question 30

Where is the sphenopalatine foramen found

Answer 30

In the medial wall of the pterygopalatine fossa

Question 31

What is found inside the pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 31

Several branches of the second division

Question 32

What are the main branches of CN Vb

Answer 32

Zygomatic

Infra-orbital

Question 33

What are the other branches of CN Vb and what do they supply

Answer 33

Nasopalatine to nasal cavity
Greater and lesser palatine to palate
Pharyngeal to nasopharynx
Alveolar to upper teeth

Question 34

Where does the infraorbital nerve emerge from and what does it supply

Answer 34

The infraorbital foramen

Supplies the lower eyelid, cheek, nose and upper lip

Question 35

Describe the course of the nasopalatine nerve

Answer 35

Enters the nasal cavity via the sphenopalatine foramen to reach the nasal septum where it courses inferiorly and passes the incisive canal to reach the anterior hard palate

Question 36

What nerves supply the teeth

Answer 36

Anterior superior alveolar nerve - Vb
Middle superior alveolar nerve - Vb
Posterior alveolar nerve - Vb

Question 37

What nerves supply the gingivae

Answer 37

Nasopalatine nerve - Vb
Anterior superior alveolar nerve - Vb
Middle superior alveolar nerve - Vb
Greater palatine nerve - Vb