Infratrochlear nerve

The infratrochlear nerve is a branch of the nasociliary nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve.

Infratrochlear nerve
Sensory innervation of the head. The infratrochlear nerve is seen in the green area, emerging from the orbit.
Details
FromNasociliary nerve
Innervatesskin of eyelids, conjunctiva, lacrimal sac, lacrimal caruncle, side of nose above medial canthus
Identifiers
LatinNervus infratrochlearis
TAA14.2.01.035
FMA52693
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
Not to be confused with supratrochlear nerve.

Structure

The nasociliary nerve terminates by bifurcating into the infratrochlear and the anterior ethmoidal nerves. The infratrochlear nerve travels anteriorly in the orbit along the upper border of the medial rectus muscle and underneath the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle. It exits the orbit medially and divides into small sensory branches.[1]

Function

The infratrochlear nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the eye lids, the conjunctiva, lacrimal sac, lacrimal caruncle and the side of the nose above the medial canthus.

Etymology

The infratrochlear nerve is named after a structure it passes under. Infratrochlear means "below the trochlea". The term trochlea means "pulley" in Latin. Specifically, the trochlea refers to a fibrocartilaginous loop at the superomedial surface of the orbit called the trochlea, through which the tendon of the superior oblique muscle passes.

Additional images
  • Nerves of the orbit. Seen from above. The infratrochlear nerve is labelled at the top left, and can be seen as a terminal branch of the nasociliary nerve, along with the anterior ethmoidal nerve.
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References
  1. Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Standring, Susan (41 ed.). [Philadelphia]. 2016. ISBN 978-0-7020-5230-9. OCLC 920806541.CS1 maint: others (link)
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