Zygomatic nerve

The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V₂).{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}{{Cite book|last1=Pai|first1=Umeshraya T.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780443066511500769|title=Essentials of Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia|last2=Nayak|first2=Rajeshri|last3=Molloy|first3=Robert E.|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2005|isbn=978-0-443-06651-1|edition=2nd|pages=598–606|language=en|chapter=72 - Head and Neck Blocks|doi=10.1016/B978-0-443-06651-1.50076-9}} It arises at the pterygopalatine ganglion.{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}

It exits from the pterygopalatine fossa through the inferior orbital fissure to enter the orbit.{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}{{Cite book|last1=Forrester|first1=John V.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702055546000010|title=The Eye - Basic Sciences in Practice|last2=Dick|first2=Andrew D.|last3=McMenamin|first3=Paul G.|last4=Roberts|first4=Fiona|last5=Pearlman|first5=Eric|publisher=Saunders|year=2016|isbn=978-0-7020-5554-6|edition=4th|pages=1–102|language=en|chapter=1 - Anatomy of the eye and orbit|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-5554-6.00001-0}} In the orbit, it travels anteriorly along its lateral wall.

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

• Zygomaticotemporal nerve{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}
• Zygomaticofacial nerve{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}
• A communicating branch to lacrimal nerve{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}

Sometimes, the zygomatic nerve does not branch within the orbit. Instead, it enters a single foramen in the zygomatic bone called the zygomatico-orbital foramen. In this case, it divides within the bone into the zygomaticotemporal nerve and the zygomaticofacial nerve.

The terminal branches of the zygomatic nerve contain sensory axons.{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}} These provide sensation to the skin over the temporal bone and the zygomatic bone.{{Cite book|title=Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice|publisher=Elsevier |editor-last=Standring |editor-first=Susan|year=2016|isbn=978-0-7020-5230-9|edition=41|location=Philadelphia|oclc=920806541}}

The zygomatic nerve also carries postganglionic parasympathetic axons.{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}} These axons have their cell bodies in the pterygopalatine ganglion. They travel from the ganglion to the zygomatic nerve, and then to the lacrimal nerve through a communicating branch. From the lacrimal nerve, they enter the lacrimal gland and provide secretomotor supply.{{Cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=B. C.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742032002852|title=Encyclopedia of the Eye|last2=McLoon|first2=L. K.|publisher=Academic Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-12-374203-2|pages=537–548|language=en|chapter=Cranial Nerves and Autonomic Innervation in the Orbit|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00285-2}}

The zygomatic nerve can be blocked indirectly by anaesthetising the maxillary nerve (CN V₂). The zygomatic nerve and its branches may be damaged by a fracture to the zygomatic bone.{{Cite book|last1=Gellrich|first1=Nils-Claudius Bernhard|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702060564000071|title=Maxillofacial Surgery|last2=Zimmerer|first2=Rüdiger M.|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2017|isbn=978-0-7020-6056-4|edition=3rd|volume=1|pages=93–132|language=en|chapter=7 - Surgical Management of Maxillary and Zygomatic Fractures|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-6056-4.00007-1}}

File:Gray790.png|The nerves of the scalp, face, and side of neck.

File:Gray778.png|Branches of the trigeminal nerve. The zygomatic nerve is visible branching from the maxillary nerve and entering the orbit.

{{Trigeminal nerve}}

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Category:Maxillary nerve