Structure of the Maxillary Nerve - Begins at the middle of the trigeminal ganglion as a flattened plexiform band - Passes through the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus - Leaves the skull through the foramen rotundum - Becomes more cylindrical in form and firmer in texture after passing through the foramen rotundum

Branches of the Maxillary Nerve - Branches may be divided into four groups: in the cranium, in the pterygopalatine fossa, in the infraorbital canal, or on the face - Carries parasympathetic preganglionic fibers to the pterygopalatine ganglion - Carries postganglionic fibers to the zygomatic, greater and lesser palatine, and nasopalatine - Gives cutaneous branches to the face - Accompanied by the infraorbital branch of the maxillary artery and the accompanying vein

Additional Images - Image of the Maxillary nerve

Related Topics - Trigeminal nerve - Cranial nerves - Alveolar nerve (Dental nerve) - This article uses anatomical terminology

References - Incorporates text in the public domain from page 889 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) - Monkhouse, Stanley (2006), page 5, Table 1.1 - Synopsis of cranial nerves - Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck, Fehrenbach and Herring, Elsevier, 2012, page 180 - Monkhouse, Stanley (2006). Cranial nerves - functional anatomy. Cambridge. ISBN 0-521-61537-2. - Feneis, Heinz; Dauber, Wolfgang (2007). Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy (5th ed.). Thieme. pp. 400–401.