Maxillary Nerve

Origin and Course of Maxillary Nerve.

Maxillary nerve is the 2^nd division of trigeminal nerve.

• It is a pure sensory nerve. 
•  It commences from the anterior aspect of trigeminal ganglion.
•  It passes along the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.
•  It then leaves the cranial cavity via foramen rotundum and enter pterygopalatine fossa.
•  It continues as infraorbital nerve by passing through inferior orbital fissure and then infra orbital canal in the floor of orbit to reach the face via infraorbital foramen.

Branches of Maxillary Nerve and Its Distribution

Following are the branches of maxillary nerve

• In the cranial cavity: It gives meningeal branch which innervates duramater of the middle cranial fossa.
• In the pterygopalatine fossa it gives:
  • 2-3 ganglionic branches to pterygopalatine ganglion (sensory fibers pass through the branches of perygopalatine ganglion to nasal cavity, palate, nasopharynx and orbit).
  • Posterior superior alveolar nerves which supply upper molar teeth and maxillary sinus.
  • Zygomatic nerve that divides into zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial nerve  and supply skin over the temporal region and over the zygomatic bone. Zygomaticotemporal branch carries postganglionic parasympathetic fibers (secretomotor fibers) from pterygopalatine ganglion to the lacrimal branch of ophthalmic nerve which supplies lacrimal gland.
  • Infraorbital nerve is the continuation of maxillary nerve. The infraorbital nerve gives following branches:
    • In the infra orbital canal:
      • Middle superior alveolar nerve- Innervates upper premolar teeth, gums and maxillary sinus.
      • Anterior superior alveolar nerve- Innervates upper canine and incisors, gums and maxillary sinus.
    • On the face:
      • Palpebral branch to lower eyelid.
      • Nasal branch to ala of nose.
      • Labial branch of upper lip.