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ophthalmic nerve
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ophthalmic nerve

physiology
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Quick Summary

The ophthalmic nerve is one of three branches of the trigeminal nerve, the largest cranial nerve. It primarily carries sensory information from the face, including the skin of the forehead and scalp, the upper eyelid, the conjunctiva, the lacrimal gland, and the nasal cavity. It enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure and then branches out to serve these areas.1

It's important to distinguish the ophthalmic nerve from the optic nerve (CN II), which is responsible for vision and transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Disorders of the optic nerve can lead to vision loss.23

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
5 Britannica Sources
  1. human nervous system - Ophthalmic nerve
  2. eye disease - Disorders of the optic nerve
  3. human nervous system - Maxillary nerve
  4. facial nerve
  5. human nervous system - Optic nerve (CN II or 2)

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