{{Short description|Nerve of the orbit around the eye}} {{Infobox nerve | Name = Posterior ethmoidal nerve | Latin = nervus ethmoidalis posterior | Image = Gray514.png | Caption = The ophthalmic artery and its branches. (Nerve not pictured, but location is similar to artery.) | Image2 = | Caption2 = | Innervates = Sphenoidal sinus, ethmoidal sinus | BranchFrom = Nasociliary nerve | BranchTo = }}
The '''posterior ethmoidal nerve''' is a nerve of the head. It is a branch of the nasociliary nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V<sub>1</sub>)). It provides sensory innervation to the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus, and part of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.
== Structure ==
=== Origin === The posterior ethmoidal nerve is a branch of the nasociliary nerve.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last1=Barral|first1=Jean-Pierre|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702031007500185|title=Manual Therapy for the Cranial Nerves|last2=Croibier|first2=Alain|publisher=Churchill Livingstone|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7020-3100-7|pages=115–128|language=en|chapter=15 - Ophthalmic nerve|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-3100-7.50018-5}}</ref>
=== Course === It passes through the posterior ethmoidal foramen alongside the posterior ethmoidal artery.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Semmer|first1=A. E.|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123742032002840|title=Encyclopedia of the Eye|last2=McLoon|first2=L. K.|last3=Lee|first3=M. S.|publisher=Academic Press|year=2010|isbn=978-0-12-374203-2|pages=241–251|language=en|chapter=Orbital Vascular Anatomy|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-374203-2.00284-0}}</ref>
=== Branches === Within the anterior cranial fossa, it issues a branch to which innervates part of the dura mater.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last1=Shimizu |first1=Toshihiko |title=Handbook of Clinical Neurology |last2=Suzuki |first2=Norihiro |publisher=Elsevier |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-444-52139-2 |volume=97 |pages=35–45 |language=en |chapter=3 - Biological sciences related to headache |doi=10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97003-6 |issn=0072-9752 |pmid=20816409 |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0072975210970036}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last1=Seker |first1=Askin |title=Meningiomas |last2=Martins |first2=Carolina |last3=Rhoton Jr. |first3=Albert L. |publisher=Saunders |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-4160-5654-6 |pages=11–51 |language=en |chapter=2 - Meningeal Anatomy |doi=10.1016/B978-1-4160-5654-6.00002-7 |chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9781416056546000027}}</ref>
It gives branches to the sphenoid sinus and the ethmoid sinus.<ref name=":0" />
=== Variation === The posterior ethmoidal nerve is absent in a significant proportion of people.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rea|first=Paul|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128036334000028|title=Essential Clinically Applied Anatomy of the Peripheral Nervous System in the Head and Neck|publisher=Academic Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-12-803633-4|pages=21–130|language=en|chapter=2 - Head|doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-803633-4.00002-8}}</ref> This may be around 30%.
== Function == The posterior ethmoidal nerve supplies sensation to the sphenoid sinus and the ethmoid sinus.<ref name=":0" /> It also supplies sensation to part of the dura mater in the anterior cranial fossa.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
== Other animals == The posterior ethmoidal nerve is present in other animals, including horses.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780723436607000110|title=Knottenbelt and Pascoe's Color Atlas of Diseases and Disorders of the Horse|publisher=Saunders|year=2014|isbn=978-0-7234-3660-7|edition=2nd|pages=400–442|language=en|chapter=11 - Disorders of the nervous system|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7234-3660-7.00011-0}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Elizabeth A.|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702047718000247|title=Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery|last2=Maher|first2=Omar|publisher=Saunders|year=2014|isbn=978-0-7020-4771-8|edition=2nd|pages=503–526|language=en|doi=10.1016/B978-0-7020-4771-8.00024-7}}</ref> Headshaking can sometimes be treated with analgesia or neurectomy of the posterior ethmoidal nerve.<ref name=":3" />
== References == <references />
== External links == * {{LoyolaMedEd|GrossAnatomy/h_n/cn/cn1/cnb1.htm}} * {{NormanAnatomy|cranialnerves}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|V}}) * http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/figures/chapter_45/45-6.HTM
{{Trigeminal nerve}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Ophthalmic nerve