The zygomaticofacial nerve (or zygomaticofacial branch of zygomatic nerve or malar branch of zygomatic nerve) is a
cutaneous
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different d ...
(
sensory) branch of the
maxillary nerve (CN V2) that arises within 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 ...
.
The zygomaticofacial nerve penetrates the inferolateral angle of the orbit, emerging into the face through
the
zygomaticofacial foramen,
then penetrates the
orbicularis oculi muscle
The orbicularis oculi is a Sphincter, sphincter-like muscle in the face that closes the eyelids. It arises from the nasal part of the frontal bone, from the frontal process of the maxilla in front of the lacrimal groove, and from the anterior surf ...
to reach
and innervate the skin of the prominence of the cheek.
Anatomy
Communications
The zygomaticofacial nerve forms a
nerve plexus
A nerve plexus is a plexus (branching network) of intersecting nerves. A nerve plexus is composed of afferent and efferent fibers that arise from the merging of the anterior rami of spinal nerves and blood vessels. There are five spinal nerve ple ...
with the
zygomatic branches of facial nerve (CN VII), and the
inferior palpebral branches of
maxillary nerve (V2).
Variation
The nerve may sometimes be absent.
References
External links
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Maxillary nerve
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