NERVUS OPHTHALMICUS Meaning and
Definition
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The term "nervus ophthalmicus" refers to a major branch of the trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve. This nerve is responsible for carrying sensory information from the eye and surrounding structures to the brain.
The nervus ophthalmicus is divided into several smaller branches that innervate different regions of the eye. These branches include the frontal nerve, lacrimal nerve, and nasociliary nerve. The frontal nerve provides sensation to the forehead, scalp, and upper eyelid. The lacrimal nerve supplies sensory fibers to the lacrimal gland, which is responsible for tear production. Lastly, the nasociliary nerve sends sensory signals from various structures within the nose, including the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
In addition to sensory information, the nervus ophthalmicus also carries motor fibers that control certain eye movements. These fibers originate in the brain and travel through the trigeminal nerve to reach the muscles responsible for eyelid elevation and pupillary constriction.
Disorders affecting the nervus ophthalmicus can lead to various symptoms, including eye pain, sensitivity to light, facial numbness, and decreased tear production. Conditions such as migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, and certain infections can all affect this nerve. To diagnose and treat disorders involving the nervus ophthalmicus, medical professionals often perform a thorough neurological examination alongside other diagnostic tests such as imaging studies or blood tests.
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Ophthalmic nerve, the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminus, passes forward from the semilunar ganglion in the outer wall of the cavernous sinus, entering the orbit through the superior orbital (sphenoidal) fissure; through its branches, frontal, lacrymal, and nasociliary, it supplies sensation to the orbit and its contents, the anterior part of the nasal cavity, and the skin of the forehead.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for NERVUS OPHTHALMICUS
Etymology of NERVUS OPHTHALMICUS
The word "nervus ophthalmicus" has its etymology rooted in Latin and Greek.
The term "nervus" comes from the Latin word "nervus", which means "nerve". It can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*sneur-", meaning "to tighten or stiffen".
The word "ophthalmicus" is derived from the Greek word "ophthalmos", which means "eye". It originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*okw-", meaning "to see".
When combining "nervus" and "ophthalmicus", it forms the Latin phrase "nervus ophthalmicus", which translates to "the nerve of the eye".
