Structure and Origin
- The lacrimal nerve branches from the ophthalmic nerve.
- It enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure.
- It receives a secretomotor branch from the zygomaticotemporal nerve for the lacrimal gland.
- It is accompanied by the lacrimal artery along its course through the orbit.
- It pierces the orbital septum to reach its terminal target tissues.
Course
- It enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure outside the common tendinous ring.
- It courses lateral to the frontal nerve and trochlear nerve (CN IV).
- It travels anterior-ward along the superior portion of the lateral wall of the orbit.
- It receives a secretomotor branch for the lacrimal gland from the zygomaticotemporal nerve.
- It is accompanied by the lacrimal artery along its course through the orbit.
Parasympathetic
- At the superior portion of the lateral wall of the orbit, the lacrimal nerve receives a secretomotor parasympathetic branch from the zygomaticotemporal nerve.
- The parasympathetic branch contains post-ganglionic fibers for the lacrimal gland from the pterygopalatine ganglion.
- The lacrimal nerve conveys the parasympathetic branch to the lacrimal gland.
Variation
- Occasionally, the lacrimal nerve is replaced by the zygomaticotemporal nerve, and vice versa.
The lacrimal nerve is the smallest of the three main branches of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).
| Lacrimal nerve | |
|---|---|
 Nerves of the orbit, the lacrimal nerve is visible, labelled over the eye. | |
| Details | |
| From | ophthalmic nerve |
| Innervates | lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, skin of lateral forehead, scalp and upper eyelid |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus lacrimalis |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.018 |
| TA2 | 6198 |
| FMA | 52628 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
It enters the orbit outside the common tendinous ring and passes forward along the side wall of the orbit.
It provides sensory innervation to the skin and both surfaces of conjunctiva at the lateral portion of the upper eyelid.
It also receives a parasympathetic secretomotor communicating branch for the lacrimal gland which it conveys to the gland.
lacrimal nerve (plural lacrimal nerves)
