Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve

Trigeminal schwannoma presenting with malocclusion: A case report and review of the literature

“…It originates from the brainstem as four nuclei, three sensories, and one motor. [ 8 ] Exiting the brainstem is fibers composing the trigeminal root, of which there are two parts, the sensory and motor roots. [ 8 ] Going further distal, the somas of the unipolar sensory neurons, whose axons compose the sensory root, convene at the trigeminal ganglion, which is located within Meckel’s cave.…”

“…[ 8 ] Exiting the brainstem is fibers composing the trigeminal root, of which there are two parts, the sensory and motor roots. [ 8 ] Going further distal, the somas of the unipolar sensory neurons, whose axons compose the sensory root, convene at the trigeminal ganglion, which is located within Meckel’s cave. [ 8 ] Arising from the trigeminal ganglion is the three divisions into which the trigeminal nerve is classically divided: V1 (ophthalmologic division), V2 (maxillary division), and V3 (mandibular division), each of which gives off terminal branches.…”

“…[ 8 ] Going further distal, the somas of the unipolar sensory neurons, whose axons compose the sensory root, convene at the trigeminal ganglion, which is located within Meckel’s cave. [ 8 ] Arising from the trigeminal ganglion is the three divisions into which the trigeminal nerve is classically divided: V1 (ophthalmologic division), V2 (maxillary division), and V3 (mandibular division), each of which gives off terminal branches. [ 8 ] Of these, V1 and V2 are purely sensory, and V3 is mixed supplying both sensations to the face as well as motor innervation to the muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter, medial, and lateral pterygoids), tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid, and anterior belly of the digastric.…”

“…[ 8 ] Arising from the trigeminal ganglion is the three divisions into which the trigeminal nerve is classically divided: V1 (ophthalmologic division), V2 (maxillary division), and V3 (mandibular division), each of which gives off terminal branches. [ 8 ] Of these, V1 and V2 are purely sensory, and V3 is mixed supplying both sensations to the face as well as motor innervation to the muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter, medial, and lateral pterygoids), tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini, mylohyoid, and anterior belly of the digastric. [ 8 ] Each of these trigeminal nerve branches enters/ exits the skull through different pathways (the superior orbital fissure for V1, foramen rotundum for V2, and foramen ovale for V3).…”

Mandibular Myalgia and Miniscule Meckel’s Caves

“…It is an extension of the proximal trigeminal sensory root from the brainstem containing all the trigeminal nerve's cell bodies. The ganglion is situated on a petrous apex depression known as the Gausserian notch, and is supplied by the horizontal segment of the internal carotid artery [5,6].…”