LOCATION OF THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE

 LOCATION OF THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE

The trigeminal nerve is one of the main cranial nerves, responsible for regulating sensations and movement in the head. It is also known as the trigeminal nerve, due to the presence of three main branches that cover different areas of the face. Where is this nerve located? And what is his job?

Location of the trigeminal nerve

The Trigeminal Nerve is located near the temporal area on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears.

The fifth nerve originally emerges from the brain stem, and from there it divides into two pairs, one on the right side of the face in front of the ears, and the second on the left side, and from there the nerve divides again into 3 branches that cover the face and head, which are:

Ophthalmic nerve: which is responsible for transmitting sensory signals from the upper part of the face to the brain (forehead, eye, and eyelid).

Maxillary nerve: It is responsible for transmitting sensory signals from the middle part of the face (nose, cheeks, lower eyelid, upper lip, gums, inside the mouth, upper teeth, and sinuses).

Mandibular nerve: It is responsible for transmitting sensory signals from the lower part of the face (the lower jaw, lower lip, lower gums, and the front part of the tongue). It also has a motor function in the muscles responsible for chewing, biting, and swallowing.

What is the function of the trigeminal nerve?

As we mentioned, the trigeminal nerve, with its three branches, has two main functions:

Sensory functions: that is, transferring sensations from the face and head to the brain.

Motor functions: It is linked to the mandibular nerve only, as it helps in chewing, swallowing, and biting.

What is trigeminal neuralgia? What are its symptoms?

Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most famous disorders that affects the trigeminal nerve, which causes sudden and strong attacks of pain on one side of the face. It usually occurs due to the friction of the nerve with one of the veins or arteries around it, causing irritation, or as a result of Another cause, such as a tumor, cyst, or injury.

Common symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include:

Sharp and severe pain in the face, similar to the feeling of a sudden electric shock, lasting from seconds to minutes, then returning again at later times.

The pain usually involves the cheeks, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, eyes, and forehead.

The pain is usually only on one side of the face.

The pain is often triggered by touching the face, shaving, washing the face, brushing the teeth, or even smiling.

Treatment for trigeminal neuralgia depends on the severity of symptoms and can include pain relievers, antiepileptics, or surgery in severe cases to relieve pressure on the nerve.

Article summary

The fifth nerve emerges from the brainstem, then divides into two main pairs, one for each side of the face in front of the ears, and from there the nerve branches into three smaller branches that cover the entire face and head.