The zygomatic nerve supplies the skin in the upper facial region. It belongs to the V cranial nerve, the trigeminal nerve. Its function is to innervate the skin on the cheeks.
What is the zygomatic nerve?
The zygomatic nerve is also called the zygomatic nerve. It is part of the central nervous system. It is assigned to the Vth of the total XII cranial nerves. This is the trigeminal nerve, which is also the thickest cranial nerve. The trigeminal nerve, with its branches, supplies the face of the human organism. It is divided into the opthalmic nerve (V1), the maxillary nerve (V2) and the mandibular nerve (V3). The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve. This supplies the facial skin of the cheek between the eye and the lips. The zygomatic nerve is responsible for supplying the skin of the zygomatic and temporal regions. Therefore, its supply goes just to the lower eyelid. In addition, fibers from one of its branches extend to the lacrimal gland. The zygomatic nerve enters the lower part of the orbit and descends. This is formed by a total of seven bones, one of which is the zygomatic bone.
Anatomy and structure
The trigeminal nerve exits at the pons and passes over the rock pyramid to the meninges, the dura mater. In doing so, it forms the trigeminal ganglion. After the ganglion, the trigeminal nerve bifurcates into three branches. These are the ophtalmic nerve, maxillary nerve and mandibular nerve. The maxillary nerve passes along the wall of the cavernous sinus after leaving the ganglion. It then passes through the base of the skull in the foramen. It appears below it in the ptergopalatine fossa and divides into three branches. These are the rami ganglionares, the zygomatic nerve, and the infraorbital nerve. The zygomatic nerve takes up fibers from the ganglion there in the ptergopalatine fossa. It then enters the orbit from below through the inferior orbital fissure. In the orbit, it gives up its fibers as ramus communicans to the lacrimal nerve. These continue into the lacrimal gland. It divides into the zygomatictemporal nerve and the zygomaticofacial nerve. Following this, the zygomatic nerve runs forward and pierces the zygomatic bone, the os zygomaticum. It continues through the temporal fossa and supplies the skin over the zygomatic bone and the anterior region of the temples.
Function and Tasks
The main function of the zygomatic nerve is to supply the skin at the level of the cheeks. The cheekbone is formed from the zygomatic bone and is located on the lateral side of the face below the orbit. This is the orbit. The skin of the zygomatic bone up to the temples is innervated by the zygomatic nerve. Impulses of skin perception are received and transmitted through the skin. The sensation of pain, touch stimuli or temperature impulses are registered by the cells of the skin and transmitted to the brain via the nerve fibers. An evaluation of the impulses takes place in corresponding systems of the brain. Subsequently, corresponding emotions or impulses for action are triggered. If the impulse is pleasant, a positive reaction can be expected, and if it is painful or the temperature is too high, defensive reactions occur. In addition, fibers of the zygomatic nerve supply the lacrimal gland. The fluid produced in the gland has important supplying and social functions. It ensures the functionality of the eye, helps protect it from pollution and cleans it. Tears play an important role in emotional processing as an expression of grief.
Diseases
Injuries and damage from accidents or falls can cause damage to the bones of the face. A fracture or contusion of the zygomatic bone, the os zygomaticum, or the temporal bone, the os temporale, can cause injury to the fibers of the zygomatic nerve. As a result, the skin in this region is no longer supplied adequately. This leads to a feeling of numbness or a disturbance of sensibility. If blood vessels are also destroyed in a fracture, the skin in the cheek area can no longer be adequately supplied. As a result, the affected person may develop a drooping lower eyelid and touch can no longer be adequately perceived. In principle, injured nerves in the facial area have the property of being able to regenerate. Therefore, most injuries heal on their own after a few weeks.Surgical intervention is usually not necessary. Resting the affected regions can already help, especially if the nerve has been crushed or stretched. If the damage is too severe, surgeons usually perform a transplantation of the nerve fibers. This is done mainly when the nerve fibers have been partially or completely severed. There is a chance that damaged nerve will regenerate, although there is no guarantee. The healing process will take several months after surgery. In addition, hypersensitivity of the skin on the face may occur. Even the smallest touches then cause pain up to real pain attacks. Even if the trigger is in the area of the jaw and teeth, inflammation within the nerves can extend over the entire face. Tooth inflammation in particular causes many sufferers to feel pain, which they describe as almost unbearable.
