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Structure and Origin
- Measures about 2.5cm in length
- First branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)
- Arises from the superior part of the trigeminal ganglion
Course
- Passes along the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus inferior to CN III and N IV
- Divides into three main branches near the superior orbital fissure
Sensory Innervation
- Provides sensory innervation to various structures including cornea, ciliary body, iris, lacrimal gland, conjunctiva, nasal cavity, and skin of the eyelids, eyebrow, forehead, and nose
- Carries sensory branches from eyes, conjunctiva, lacrimal gland, nasal cavity, frontal sinus, ethmoidal cells, falx cerebri, dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa, superior parts of the tentorium cerebelli, upper eyelid, dorsum of the nose, and anterior part of the scalp
- Roughly supplies general somatic afferents to the upper face, head, and eye including upper eyelid, associated conjunctiva, eyebrow, forehead, scalp, roof of orbit, frontal, ethmoid, and possibly sphenoid sinuses, and the eye itself (all intraocular structures) and the lacrimal gland and sac
- In comparison, CN V2 (maxillary nerve) provides general somatic afferents to the mid-face and mid-head
Clinical Significance
- Damage to the ophthalmic nerve can cause loss of sensation in the face
- Loss of the corneal reflex may increase the risk of corneal damage
Citations Needed
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The ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) is a sensory nerve of the head. It is one of three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V), a cranial nerve. It has three major branches which provide sensory innervation to the eye, and the skin of the upper face and anterior scalp, as well as other structures of the head.
| Ophthalmic nerve | |
|---|---|
 Oblique section through the cavernous sinus. | |
 Nerves of the orbit, and the ciliary ganglion. Side view. | |
| Details | |
| From | trigeminal nerve |
| To | frontal nerve, lacrimal nerve, nasociliary nerve |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | n. ophthalmicus |
| MeSH | D009882 |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.016 |
| TA2 | 6196 |
| FMA | 52621 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
ophthalmic nerve (plural ophthalmic nerves)
