Ophthalmic nerve 3200142 223791866 2008-07-05T20:48:41Z Delldot 476500 tentorium cerebelli|tentorium dab lk repair {{Infobox Nerve | Name = Ophthalmic nerve | Latin = n. ophthalmicus | GraySubject = 200 | GrayPage = 887 | Image = Gray571.png | Caption = Oblique section through the [[cavernous sinus]]. | Image2 = Gray777.png | Caption2 = Nerves of the orbit, and the [[ciliary ganglion]]. Side view. | Innervates = | BranchFrom = [[trigeminal nerve]] | BranchTo = | MeshName = Ophthalmic+Nerve | MeshNumber = A08.800.800.120.760.650 | }} The '''ophthalmic nerve''' is one of the three branches of the [[trigeminal nerve]], the fifth [[cranial nerve]]. Like the [[maxillary nerve|maxillary]] branch of the trigeminal nerve, the ophthalmic branch carries sensory fibers only. The ophthalmic nerve passes through the [[cavernous sinus]] and its nasociliary branch exits the [[skull]] through the [[superior orbital fissure]]. ==Branches== *[[Nasociliary nerve]] **[[sensory root of ciliary ganglion]] **[[posterior ethmodial nerve]] **[[long ciliary nerve]] **[[infratrochlear nerve]] **[[anterior ethmoidal nerve]] *[[lacrimal nerve]] *[[frontal nerve]] **[[supratrochlear nerve]] **[[supraorbital nerve]] ==Path== The ophthalmic nerve supplies branches to the [[cornea]], [[ciliary body]], and [[Iris (anatomy)|iris]]; to the [[lacrimal gland]] and [[conjunctiva]]; to the part of the [[mucous membrane]] of the [[nasal cavity]]; and to the skin of the [[eyelids]], [[eyebrow]], [[forehead]], and [[nose]]. It is the smallest of the three divisions of the trigeminal, and arises from the upper part of the [[semilunar ganglion]] as a short, flattened band, about 2.5 cm. long, which passes forward along the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus, below the [[oculomotor]] and [[trochlear nerve]]s; just before entering the orbit, through the [[superior orbital fissure]], it divides into three branches, lacrimal, frontal, and nasociliary. The ophthalmic nerve is joined by filaments from the [[cavernous plexus]] of the sympathetic, and communicates with the [[oculomotor]], [[trochlear]], and [[abducent]] nerves; it gives off a recurrent (meningeal) filament which passes between the layers of the [[tentorium cerebelli|tentorium]]. ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray776.png|Nerves of the orbit. Seen from above. Image:Gray784.png|Dermatome distribution of the trigeminal nerve Image:Ciliary ganglion pathways.png|Pathways in the Ciliary Ganglion. </gallery> {{Gray's}} ==External links== * {{LoyolaMedEd|GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb1.htm}} * {{UMichAtlas|eye_33}} * {{NormanAnatomy|cranialnerves}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|V}}) {{Cranial nerves}} {{Trigeminal nerve}} {{neuroscience-stub}} {{eye-stub}} [[de:Nervus ophthalmicus]] [[es:Nervio oftálmico]] [[nl:Nervus ophthalmicus]] [[ja:眼神経]] [[pl:Nerw oczny]] [[pt:Nervo oftálmico]]