Trigeminal Nerve

The trigeminal nerve, or the cranial nerve V is responsible for sensations in the face and motor functions such as biting and chewing. It originates from 3 sensory nuclei and 1 motor nucleus, which send fibres to form its tracts and is associated with 3 separate branches.

Ophthalmic branch (V1), the maxillary branch (V2) and the mandibular branch (V3). The mandibular (lower jaw bone) branch has both the sensory and motor component whereas the ophthalmic and maxillary (smell and sight) only has sensory components.

Being an extremely important and the largest of the 12 cranial nerves, conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia can affect both motor and sensory functions of the face, having a significant impact on the patient’s life.

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353344

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