The supratrochlear nerve is a branch of the frontal nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelid.
Supratrochlear nerve | |
---|---|
Details | |
From | Frontal nerve |
Identifiers | |
Latin | nervus supratrochlearis |
TA98 | A14.2.01.024 |
TA2 | 6203 |
FMA | 52642 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata] |
The supratrochlear nerve is the smaller of the two terminal branches of the frontal nerve (the other being the supraorbital nerve).[1] It arises midway between the base and apex of the orbit[2] where the frontal nerve splits into said terminal branches.[1]
The supratrochlear nerve passes medially[3] above the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle.[2][3] It then travels anteriorly above the levator palpebrae superioris muscle.[1] It exits the orbit through the supraorbital notch or foramen.[3] It then ascends onto the forehead beneath the corrugator supercilii muscle and frontalis muscle. It finally divides into sensory branches.[citation needed]
The supratrochlear nerve travels with the supratrochlear artery, a branch of the ophthalmic artery.[2]
Before exiting the orbit, the supratrochlear nerve emits a descending branch to the infratrochlear nerve.[3][1]
The supratrochlear nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin and conjunctiva of the upper eyelid, and the skin of the inferomedial forehead.[1] It may also provide sensory innervation to part of the periosteum of the frontal bone.[4]
The supratrochlear nerve may be anaesthetised for surgery of parts of the scalp.[5][6] This can be used for small lesions of the scalp.[5] It can also be used for more extensive injury to the scalp.[6] It is often anaesthetised alongside the supraorbital artery.[5]
The supratrochlear nerve is named for its passage above the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle.[2]
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 888 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)