Question #670

The nasal cavity has three distinct nerve modalities:

1. General sensation is via the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve
2. Special sensation is via the olfactory nerve, this innervates the olfactory mucosa located on the roof and upper medial and lateral walls.
3. Parasympathetic fibres are carried from the brainstem via the facial nerve which branches to give the greater petrosal nerve which carries pre-ganglionic fibres to the pterygopalatine ganglion located in the pterygopalatine fossa. From here, post-ganglionic fibres are carried by the trigeminal nerve to supply the nasal mucosa.

Venous drainage is via the infratemporal fossa.

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