Posterior ethmoidal nerve
Nerve of the orbit around the eye
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The posterior ethmoidal nerve is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)). It provides sensory innervation to the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus, and part of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.
| Posterior ethmoidal nerve | |
|---|---|
The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Nerve not pictured, but location is similar to artery.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Nasociliary nerve |
| Innervates | Sphenoidal sinus, ethmoidal sinus |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus ethmoidalis posterior |
| TA98 | A14.2.01.028 |
| TA2 | 6207 |
| FMA | 52714 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
Structure
Origin
The posterior ethmoidal nerve is a branch of the nasociliary nerve.[1]
Course
It passes through the posterior ethmoidal foramen alongside the posterior ethmoidal artery.[2]
Branches
Within the anterior cranial fossa, it issues a branch to which innervates part of the dura mater.[3][4]
It gives branches to the sphenoid sinus and the ethmoid sinus.[1]
Variation
The posterior ethmoidal nerve is absent in a significant proportion of people.[5] This may be around 30%.
Function
The posterior ethmoidal nerve supplies sensation to the sphenoid sinus and the ethmoid sinus.[1] It also supplies sensation to part of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.[3][4]
Other animals
The posterior ethmoidal nerve is present in other animals, including horses.[6][7] Headshaking can sometimes be treated with analgesia or neurectomy of the posterior ethmoidal nerve.[7]