The zygomaticotemporal nerve (zygomaticotemporal branch, temporal branch) 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) nerve of the head.
It is a branch of the
zygomatic nerve (itself a branch of the
maxillary nerve (CN V2)). It arises in the orbit and exits the orbit through the
zygomaticotemporal foramen in the zygomatic bone to enter the
temporal fossa
The temporal fossa is a fossa (shallow depression) on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines above, and the zygomatic arch below. Its floor is formed by the outer surfaces of four bones of the skull. The fossa is filled by the te ...
. It is distributed to the skin of the side of the
forehead
In human anatomy, the forehead is an area of the head bounded by three features, two of the skull and one of the scalp. The top of the forehead is marked by the hairline, the edge of the area where hair on the scalp grows. The bottom of the fo ...
. It also contains a parasympathetic secretomotor component for the lacrimal gland which it confers to the lacrimal nerve (which then delivers it to the gland).
Structure
Origin
The zygomaticotemporal nerve is a branch of the
zygomatic nerve.
Course
It passes along the lateral wall of the orbit in a groove in the
zygomatic bone
In the human skull, the zygomatic bone (from ), also called cheekbone or malar bone, is a paired irregular bone, situated at the upper and lateral part of the face and forming part of the lateral wall and floor of the orbit, of the temporal fos ...
.
It passes through the
zygomaticotemporal foramen of the zygomatic bone
to emerge (at the anterior portion of) the
temporal fossa
The temporal fossa is a fossa (shallow depression) on the side of the skull bounded by the temporal lines above, and the zygomatic arch below. Its floor is formed by the outer surfaces of four bones of the skull. The fossa is filled by the te ...
.
In the temporal fossa, it passes superior-ward
between the two layers of the
temporal fascia,
between the temporal bone and
temporalis muscle. It pierces the
temporal fascia about 2 cm superior to the
zygomatic arch
In anatomy, the zygomatic arch (colloquially known as the cheek bone), is a part of the skull formed by the zygomatic process of temporal bone, zygomatic process of the temporal bone (a bone extending forward from the side of the skull, over the ...
.
As it pierces the deep layer of
temporal fascia, it issues a small branch which runs between the two layers of the temporalis fascia to the lateral angle of 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 ...
.
Distribution
The nerve provides sensory innervation to a small area of skin
over the temple
superior to the zygomatic arch.
Communications
The zygomaticotemporal nerve communicates with the
facial nerve (CN VII) (in most individuals
),
the
lacrimal nerve (a branch of the
ophthalmic nerve (CN V1)),
and the
auriculotemporal nerve (a branch of the
mandibular nerve (CN V3)).
* The zygomaticotemporal nerve confers a parasympathetic
secretomotor
communicating
branch (containing post-ganglionic fibres for the lacrimal gland from the
pterygopalatine ganglion) to the
lacrimal nerve at the superior portion of the lateral wall of the orbit.
Variation
Sometimes, the zygomaticotemporal nerve replaces the
lacrimal nerve and vice versa.
References
External links
*
*
* http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_47/47-2.HTM
{{Authority control
Maxillary nerve