Supraorbital

Supratrochlear

OPHTHALMIC AREA

MANDIBULAR AREA

MAXILLARY AREA

ZygomaticInfratrochlearInfraorbitalNasalTemporal

Seventh CranialBuccal

Mental

Mandibular

CervicalCervical cutaneousGreater auricular

Auriculotemporal

Posterior auricular

Greater occipital

Smaller occipital

128 Chapter 6 General Anatomy and Physiology Part 2: General Sciences

neuron to a muscle, causing a reaction (for example, the quick removal of your hand from a hot object). Reflexes do not have to be learned; they are automatic.

Nerves of the Head, Face, and NeckThe largest of the cranial nerves is the fifth cranial nerve, also known as trifacial nerve (try-FAY-shul NURV) or trigeminal nerve (try-JEM-un-ul NURV). It is the chief sensory nerve of the face and serves as the motor nerve of the muscles that control chewing. It consists of three branches:

• Ophthalmic nerve (ahf-THAL-mik NURV). Supplies impulses to the skin of the forehead, upper eyelids, and interior portion of the scalp, orbit, eyeball, and nasal passage.

• Mandibular nerve (man-DIB-yuh-lur NURV). Affects the muscles of the chin, lower lip, and external ear.

• Maxillary nerve (MAK-suh-lair-ee NURV). Supplies impulses to the upper part of the face (Figure 6–22).

The following are the branches of the fifth cranial nerve that are affected by massage:

• Auriculotemporal nerve (aw-RIK-yuh-loh-TEM-puh-rul NURV). Affects the external ear and skin above the temple, up to the top of the skull.

• Infraorbital nerve (in-fruh-OR-bih-tul NURV). Affects the skin of the lower eyelid, side of the nose, upper lip, and mouth.

• Infratrochlear nerve (in-frah-TRAHK-lee-ur NURV). Affects the membrane and skin of the nose.

• Mental nerve (MEN-tul NURV). Affects the skin of the lower lip and chin.

• Nasal nerve (NAY-zul NURV). Affects the point and lower side of the nose.

• Supraorbital nerve (soo-pruh-OR-bih-tul NURV). Affects the skin of the forehead, scalp, eyebrow, and upper eyelid.

ACTivityThere are sensory nerve endings all over the body. Try gently pinching a small piece of the skin on your arm. You feel a slight pressure, right? That is the sensory nerve endings sending a message from your arm to your brain that something is happening to the arm.

Figure 6–22Nerves of the head, face, and neck.

© M

ilady

, a p

art o

f Cen

gage

Lea

rnin

g.

6

59306_C06.indd 128 5/3/11 2:25 PM