Orbital nerve supply
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Knipe H, Orbital nerve supply. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-53665
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rID:
53665
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
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Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had the following disclosures:
- Philips Australia, Paid speaker at Philips Spectral CT events (ongoing)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
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Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Nerves of the orbit
There are numerous nerves of the orbit with have varying functions. There are best described divided into groups based on how they enter the orbit.
On this page:
Optic canal
- optic nerve (CN II): special sensory nerve of the globe (vision)
Superior orbital fissure
- superior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN IIIs): motor nerve to the superior rectus and levator palpebrae superioris muscles
- inferior division of the oculomotor nerve (CN IIIi): motor nerve to the medial rectus, inferior rectus and inferior oblique muscles. It also carries parasympathetic fibers to the ciliary ganglion.
- trochlear nerve (CN IV): motor nerve to the superior oblique muscle
- abducens nerve (CN VI): motor nerve to the lateral rectus muscle
- frontal nerve of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve:
-
nasociliary nerve of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve:
- short ciliary nerves: sensory nerves to the globe and conjunctiva
- long ciliary nerves: sensory nerves to the globe
- small communicating branch to the ciliary ganglion: sensory nerves to the globe
- infratrochlear nerve: sensory nerve to the face
- posterior ethmoidal nerve: sensory nerve to the sphenoid and posterior ethmoidal sinuses
- anterior ethmoidal nerve: sensory nerve of the anterior and middle ethmoidal sinuses, dura and nasal cavity
- lacrimal nerve of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve: sensory nerve to the face
Inferior orbital fissure
- infra-orbital nerve of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve: sensory nerve to the face and maxillary teeth
- zygomatic nerve of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve: sensory nerve to the face
- small ganglionic branches to the pterygopalatine ganglion:
The ciliary ganglion is located in the intraconal space of the posterior orbit between the optic nerve and the lateral rectus muscle.
References
- 1. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. ISBN: 9780683061413
- 2. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780729537520
- 3. Paul Butler, Adam Mitchell, Jeremiah C. Healy. Applied Radiological Anatomy. ISBN: 9780521766661
- 4. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
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