Nerve
Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Face sensation and mastication
High-yield
V1 (superior orbital fissure), V2 (foramen rotundum), V3 (foramen ovale). Only V3 is motor — to the muscles of mastication.
Overview
The largest cranial nerve, providing sensation to the face via three divisions (V1 ophthalmic, V2 maxillary, V3 mandibular) and motor supply to the muscles of mastication.
Reference facts
- Roots
Sensory and motor (cranial nerve)
- Course
From the trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglion, three divisions exit the skull via the superior orbital fissure, foramen rotundum, and foramen ovale
- Motor
Muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, pterygoids), plus mylohyoid, anterior digastric, tensor tympani, and tensor veli palatini (via V3)
- Sensory
Skin of the face, anterior scalp, cornea, mucosa of the mouth/nose/sinuses, and anterior two-thirds of the tongue (general sensation)
Mnemonic
Standing Room Only: V1 Superior orbital fissure, V2 Rotundum, V3 Ovale.
Clinical correlation
Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe lancinating facial pain in a division's distribution.