Question #522
Nasociliary nerve
The nasociliary nerve is a branch of the ophthalmic nerve. It enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure before passing through the tendinous ring of the orbit. It passes anteriorly on the medial wall of the orbital cavity giving off a number of different branches:
- Long ciliary – carries sympathetic fibres to the eye and innervates the cornea
- Short ciliary – via the ciliary ganglion, carries post-ganglionic fibres to the sphinter pupillae and ciliary muscles of the eye
- Anterior and posterior ethmoidal branches – innervating the nasal cavity
- Infratrochlear nerve – supplies the skin on the lateral nose, the eyelids and the lacrimal sac.
