The Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Remedial Treatment of the Fifth Pair of Nerves. [Volume: 2, Issue: 2, September, 1860, pp. 77-88]

THE FIFTH PAIR OF NERVES.

85

THE SUPERIOR MAXILLARY NERVE.
The Superior Maxillary, or second division of the fifth nerve, comes
off from the middle of the ganglion of Gasser, and pursues a horizontal
course to the foramen rotundum, through which it passes to cross the
spheno-maxillary fossa, and then enters the canal in the floor of the
orbit, along which it runs to the infra-orbital foramen. The branches of
the superior maxillary are the Orbital, Spheno-palatine, Posterior, Middle, and Anterior Dental, and Infra-orbital.
The Orbital or Temporo-Malar Nerve enters the orbit and divides
into two branches, the temporal and malar. The temporal branch ascends
along the outer wall of the cavity and anastomoses with the lachrymal
branch of the ophthalmic, and then passes through a foramen in the malar
bone and enters the temporal fossa, where it communicates with the facial
and the temporal branch of the inferior maxillary, and is distributed to the
integument covering the temple and side of the face. The malar branch
runs along the outer wall of the orbit, and eventually escapes through a
foramen in the malar bone, and anastomoses with the infra-orbital and
facial nerves in the cheek.
The Spheno-palatine branches are two in number, and pass to the
ganglion of Meckel, in the pterygo-maxillary fossa.
The Posterior Dental branches arise from the superior maxillary nerve
just before it enters the infra-orbital canal, and pass through small foramina in the tuberosity of the maxillary bone, and are distributed to the
pulps of the upper molar teeth, lining membrane of the antrum, and
gums.
The Middle and Anterior Dental arise from the superior maxillary
nerve in the infra-orbital canal, and pass through small foramina in the
walls of the antrum, and are distributed to the pulps of the superior
bicuspids, canines, and incisors, the lining membrane of the antrum, gums,
and mucous membrane of the nares and palate. They also anastomose
with the posterior dental.
The Infra-orbital branches, three in number, the Palpebral, Nasal,
and Labial, are the terminating filaments of the superior maxillary nerve,
which pass out of the infra-orbital foramen, and are distributed to the
eyelids, nose, lips, and cheeks. They anastomose with the facial nerve.
SPHENO-PALATINE GANGLION AND ITS BRANCHES.
The SPHENO-PALATINE, or MECKEL'S GANGLION. The largest cranial
ganglion is situated, as before stated, in the pterygo-maxillary fossa.
The nerves connected with this ganglion are the spheno-palatine, which
ascends to the superior maxillary nerve; the palatine, (anterior, middle,
and posterior,) which descend, pass through the posterior palatine foramen, and are distributed to the hard and soft palate, tonsils, and mucous