The supraorbital nerve is one of two terminal branches - the other being the

supratrochlear nerve The supratrochlear nerve is a branch of the frontal nerve, itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) from the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It provides sensory innervation to the skin of the forehead and the upper eyelid. Structure Orig ...

- of the

frontal nerve The frontal nerve is the largest branch of the ophthalmic nerve (V1), itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It supplies sensation to the skin of the forehead, the mucosa of the frontal sinus, and the skin of the upper eyelid. It may be a ...

(itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V₁)). It exits the orbit via the supraorbital foramen/notch before splitting into a medial branch and a lateral branch. It innervates the skin of the forehead, upper eyelid, and the root of the nose.

Structure

Origin

The supraorbital nerve branches from the frontal nerve midway between the base and apex of the orbit.

Course

It travels anteriorly superior to the

levator palpebrae superioris muscle The levator palpebrae superioris () is the muscle in the orbit that elevates the upper eyelid. Structure The levator palpebrae superioris originates from inferior surface of the lesser wing of the sphenoid bone, just above the optic foramen. It ...

. It exits the orbit through the supraorbital foramen/notch in the superior margin orbit, exiting it lateral to the

. It then ascends onto the forehead deep to the

corrugator supercilii muscle The corrugator supercilii muscle is a small, narrow, pyramidal muscle of the face. It arises from the medial end of the superciliary arch; it inserts into the deep surface of the skin of the eyebrow. It draws the eyebrow downward and medially, p ...

and

frontalis muscles The frontalis muscle () is a muscle which covers parts of the forehead of the skull. Some sources consider the frontalis muscle to be a distinct muscle. However, Terminologia Anatomica currently classifies it as part of the occipitofrontalis muscl ...

Fate

It divides into a medial branch and lateral branch - usually after emerging from the orbit, but sometimes already within the orbit.

Distribution

The supraorbital nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the lateral forehead and

upper eyelid 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" ...

, as well as the

conjunctiva In the anatomy of the eye, the conjunctiva (: conjunctivae) is a thin mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera (the white of the eye). It is composed of non-keratinized, stratified squamous epithelium with gobl ...

of the upper eyelid and mucosa of the

frontal sinus The frontal sinuses are one of the four pairs of paranasal sinuses that are situated behind the brow ridges. Sinuses are mucosa-lined airspaces within the bones of the face and skull. Each opens into the anterior part of the corresponding middle ...

Additional images

File:Slide5abab.JPG, Superior view of a dissection of the left orbit. The frontal nerve can be seen dividing into the supratrochlear nerve, medially and the supraorbital nerve, laterally. File:Gray894.png, Anterior view of the orbit. The supraorbital nerve can be seen exiting the orbit through the supraorbital notch with the supraorbital artery.

References

{{Authority control Ophthalmic nerve