The infraorbital nerve is a branch of the

maxillary nerve In neuroanatomy, the maxillary nerve (V) is one of the three branches or divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth (CN V) cranial nerve. It comprises the principal functions of Sense, sensation from the maxilla, nasal cavity, Sinus (anatomy ...

(itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). It arises in the

pterygopalatine fossa In human anatomy, the pterygopalatine fossa (sphenopalatine fossa) is a fossa in the skull. A human skull contains two pterygopalatine fossae—one on the left side, and another on the right side. Each fossa is a cone-shaped paired depression dee ...

. It passes through the

inferior orbital fissure The inferior orbital fissure is a gap between the Greater wing of sphenoid bone, greater wing of sphenoid bone, and the maxilla. It connects the Orbit (anatomy), orbit (anteriorly) with the infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa (posterio ...

to enter the orbit. It travels through the

orbit In celestial mechanics, an orbit (also known as orbital revolution) is the curved trajectory of an object such as the trajectory of a planet around a star, or of a natural satellite around a planet, or of an artificial satellite around an ...

, then enters and traverses the infraorbital canal, exiting the canal at the

infraorbital foramen In human anatomy, the infraorbital foramen is one of two small holes in the skull's upper jawbone ( maxillary bone), located below the eye socket and to the left and right of the nose. Both holes are used for blood vessels and nerves. In anatomic ...

to reach the face. It provides sensory innervation to the skin and mucous membranes around the middle of the face.

Structure

Origin

The infraorbital nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V₂), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V); it may be considered as the terminal branch of the maxillary nerve. It arises from the maxillary nerve in the

Course

It travels through the

to enter the

. It runs anteriorly along the floor of the orbit in the

infraorbital groove The infraorbital groove (or sulcus) is located in the middle of the posterior part of the orbital surface of the maxilla. Its function is to act as the passage of the infraorbital artery, the infraorbital vein, and the infraorbital nerve. Struc ...

to the infraorbital canal of the maxilla. Within the infraorbital canal it has three branches, the posterior superior alveolar nerve, middle superior alveolar nerve and anterior superior alveolar nerve. After traversing the canal it emerges onto the anterior surface of the maxilla through the infraorbital foramen. Here, it divides into its terminal branches;

palpebral An eyelid ( ) is a thin fold of skin that covers and protects an eye. The levator palpebrae superioris muscle retracts the eyelid, exposing the cornea to the outside, giving vision. This can be either voluntarily or involuntarily. "Palpebral" ...

, nasal and superior labial.

Branches

Within infraorbital canal from proximal to distal: * posterior superior alveolar nerve. * middle superior alveolar nerve. * anterior superior alveolar nerve. After it exits the infraorbital foramen: * palpebral branches. * nasal branches. * superior labial branches. The palpebral branches ascend deep to the orbicularis oculi and pierce the muscle to supply the skin of the lower eyelid. The nasal branches supply the skin of the side of the nose and the moveable part of the nasal septum. The superior labial branches descend deep to the levator labii superioris to supply the skin of the anterior cheek and upper lip.

Relations

Along its course, the infraorbital nerve is accompanied by the infraorbital artery and

vein Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and feta ...

Distribution

The infraorbital nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the lower eyelid, the side of the

nose A nose is a sensory organ and respiratory structure in vertebrates. It consists of a nasal cavity inside the head, and an external nose on the face. The external nose houses the nostrils, or nares, a pair of tubes providing airflow through the ...

, the moveable part of

nasal septum The nasal septum () separates the left and right airways of the Human nose, nasal cavity, dividing the two nostrils. It is Depression (kinesiology), depressed by the depressor septi nasi muscle. Structure The fleshy external end of the nasal s ...

, the anterior

cheek The cheeks () constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. ''Buccal'' means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the inside of th ...

, and part of the

upper lip The lips are a horizontal pair of soft appendages attached to the jaws and are the most visible part of the mouth of many animals, including humans. Mammal lips are soft, movable and serve to facilitate the ingestion of food (e.g. sucklin ...

. It does not provide motor supply to any muscles.

Clinical significance

Infraorbital nerve block

The infraorbital nerve is often blocked with

local anesthetic A local anesthetic (LA) is a medication that causes absence of all sensation (including pain) in a specific body part without loss of consciousness, providing local anesthesia, as opposed to a general anesthetic, which eliminates all sensati ...

to induce

analgesia Pain management is an aspect of medicine and health care involving relief of pain (pain relief, analgesia, pain control) in various dimensions, from acute and simple to chronic and challenging. Most physicians and other health professionals ...

. This may be due to

chronic pain Chronic pain is pain that persists or recurs for longer than 3 months.https://icd.who.int/browse/2025-01/mms/en#1581976053 It is also known as gradual burning pain, electrical pain, throbbing pain, and nauseating pain. This type of pain is in cont ...

, or during dental or surgical procedures of the face such as for the management of postoperative pain associated with cleft lip correction. Zdilla, M. J., Russell, M. L., & Koons, A. W. (2018). Infraorbital foramen location in the pediatric population: A guide for infraorbital nerve block. Pediatric Anesthesia, 28(8), 697–702. https://doi.org/10.1111/pan.13422 The needle is inserted (aiming medially) near to the

, which can be palpated. The nerve may be blocked using either a transcutaneous or intraoral approach.

Trigeminal neuralgia

The infraorbital nerve can be implicated in

trigeminal neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia (TN or TGN), also called Fothergill disease, tic douloureux, trifacial neuralgia, is a chronic pain, long-term pain disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve, the nerve responsible for sensation in the face and motor funct ...

, where patients have severe orofacial pain.

Orbital fracture

A fracture of the floor of the orbit can injure the infraorbital nerve resulting in anesthesia in its sensory distribution.

References

{{Authority control Maxillary nerve Nose