Zygomatic nerve
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At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yoshi Yu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yoshi Yu's current disclosuresThe zygomatic nerve is a main branch of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve. It should not be confused with the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve.
Gross anatomy
The zygomatic nerve divides off the maxillary division in the pterygopalatine fossa, just after it emerges from the foramen rotundum. It receives parasympathetic fibers from the pterygopalatine ganglion. Coursing superiorly, it enters the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure as the most lateral structure. It then runs anteriorly in the inferolateral aspect of the extraconal space before branching into two sensory branches, each which exits through similarly-named foramina of the zygomatic bone:
In the lateral orbit it contributes secretomotor parasympathetic fibers (which derive from the pterygopalatine ganglion via the zygomaticotemporal nerve or a small separate communicating branch) to the lacrimal nerve (a branch of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve), which in turn supplies the lacrimal gland.
References
- 1. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
- 2. Mcminn. Last's Anatomy. ISBN: 9780729537520
- 3. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
- Orbital apex
- Inferior orbital fissure
- Lacrimal gland
- Trigeminal nerve
- Zygomaticus major muscle
- Orbital nerve supply
- Facial nerve
- Levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- Inferior orbital fissure contents (mnemonic)
- Extraconal orbital compartment
- Temporal fossa
- Orbit
- Zygomaticotemporal nerve
- Zygomaticofacial nerve
- Zygomaticotemporal foramen
- Zygomaticofacial foramen
- Zygomaticus minor muscle
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