Zygomatic nerve

Zygomatic nerve
Zygomatic nerve
	Lateral view of the nerves of the orbit. The zygomatic nerve is visible at bottom centre branching from the maxillary nerve.
Details
From	Maxillary nerve
To	Zygomaticotemporal nerve zygomaticofacial nerve communicating branch tolacrimal nerve
Innervates	Skin overtemporal boneandzygomatic bone
Identifiers
Latin	nervus zygomaticus
TA98	A14.2.01.056
TA2	6231
FMA	52967
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Thezygomatic nerveis a branch of themaxillary nerve(itself a branch of thetrigeminal nerve(CN V)). It arises in thepterygopalatine fossaand enters theorbitthrough theinferior orbital fissurebefore dividing into its two terminal branches: thezygomaticotemporal nerveandzygomaticofacial nerve.

Through its branches, the zygomatic nerve provides sensory invervation toskinover thezygomatic boneand thetemporal bone.It also carriespost-ganglionic parasympathetic axonsto thelacrimal gland.

It may be blocked byanaesthetisingthemaxillary nerve.

Structure

Origin

The zygomatic nerve is a branch of themaxillary nerve(CN V₂).^[1]^[2]It arises at thepterygopalatine ganglion.^[1]

Course

It exits from the pterygopalatine fossa through theinferior orbital fissureto enter theorbit.^[1]^[3]In the orbit, it travels anteriorly along its lateral wall.^[3]

Branches

Soon after the zygomatic nerve enters the orbit, it divides into its branches. These include:

Zygomaticotemporal nerve^[1]
Zygomaticofacial nerve^[1]
A communicating branch tolacrimal nerve^[1]

Variation

Sometimes, the zygomatic nerve does not branch within the orbit. Instead, it enters a single foramen in the zygomatic bone called thezygomatico-orbital foramen.In this case, it divides within the bone into thezygomaticotemporal nerveand thezygomaticofacial nerve.^[4]

Function

The terminal branches of the zygomatic nerve contain sensory axons.^[1]These provide sensation to theskinover thetemporal boneand thezygomatic bone.^[4]

The zygomatic nerve also carriespostganglionic parasympathetic axons.^[1]These axons have theircell bodiesin thepterygopalatine ganglion.They travel from the ganglion to the zygomatic nerve, and then to thelacrimal nervethrough a communicating branch. From the lacrimal nerve, they enter thelacrimal glandand provide secretomotor supply.^[5]

Clinical significance

The zygomatic nerve can be blocked indirectly byanaesthetisingthemaxillary nerve(CN V₂).^[2]The zygomatic nerve and its branches may be damaged by afractureto thezygomatic bone.^[6]

Additional images

The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.
Branches of the trigeminal nerve. The zygomatic nerve is visible branching from the maxillary nerve and entering the orbit.

References

^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^hRea, Paul (2016)."2 - Head".Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck.Academic Press.pp. 21–130.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8.ISBN 978-0-12-803633-4.
^^a ^bPai, Umeshraya T.; Nayak, Rajeshri; Molloy, Robert E. (2005)."72 - Head and Neck Blocks".Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia(2nd ed.).Churchill Livingstone.pp. 598–606.doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-06651-1.50076-9.ISBN 978-0-443-06651-1.
^^a ^bForrester, John V.; Dick, Andrew D.; McMenamin, Paul G.; Roberts, Fiona; Pearlman, Eric (2016)."1 - Anatomy of the eye and orbit".The Eye - Basic Sciences in Practice(4th ed.).Saunders.pp. 1–102.doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-5554-6.00001-0.ISBN 978-0-7020-5554-6.
^^a ^bStandring, Susan, ed. (2016).Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice(41 ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier.ISBN 978-0-7020-5230-9.OCLC 920806541.
^Anderson, B. C.; McLoon, L. K. (2010)."Cranial Nerves and Autonomic Innervation in the Orbit".Encyclopedia of the Eye.Academic Press.pp. 537–548.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00285-2.ISBN 978-0-12-374203-2.
^Gellrich, Nils-Claudius Bernhard; Zimmerer, Rüdiger M. (2017)."7 - Surgical Management of Maxillary and Zygomatic Fractures".Maxillofacial Surgery.Vol. 1 (3rd ed.).Churchill Livingstone.pp. 93–132.doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00007-1.ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4.

[:1-1] ^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^hRea, Paul (2016)."2 - Head".Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck.Academic Press.pp. 21–130.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8.ISBN 978-0-12-803633-4.

[:3-2] Pai, Umeshraya T.; Nayak, Rajeshri; Molloy, Robert E. (2005)."72 - Head and Neck Blocks".Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia(2nd ed.).Churchill Livingstone.pp. 598–606.doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-06651-1.50076-9.ISBN 978-0-443-06651-1.

[:2-3] Forrester, John V.; Dick, Andrew D.; McMenamin, Paul G.; Roberts, Fiona; Pearlman, Eric (2016)."1 - Anatomy of the eye and orbit".The Eye - Basic Sciences in Practice(4th ed.).Saunders.pp. 1–102.doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-5554-6.00001-0.ISBN 978-0-7020-5554-6.

[:0-4] Standring, Susan, ed. (2016).Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice(41 ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier.ISBN 978-0-7020-5230-9.OCLC 920806541.

[5] Anderson, B. C.; McLoon, L. K. (2010)."Cranial Nerves and Autonomic Innervation in the Orbit".Encyclopedia of the Eye.Academic Press.pp. 537–548.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00285-2.ISBN 978-0-12-374203-2.

[6] Gellrich, Nils-Claudius Bernhard; Zimmerer, Rüdiger M. (2017)."7 - Surgical Management of Maxillary and Zygomatic Fractures".Maxillofacial Surgery.Vol. 1 (3rd ed.).Churchill Livingstone.pp. 93–132.doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00007-1.ISBN 978-0-7020-6056-4.

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