Quick Facts
Origin: Nasociliary nerve.
Course: Runs along the superior edge of the medial rectus muscle, below the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle, and exits the orbit on the medial angle of the eye, just below the supratrochlear nerve.
Branches: Palpebral branches.
Supply: Conveys general sensation from the skin of the medial eyelids and bridge of the nose, the medial conjunctiva, and the superficial lacrimal apparatus in the medial orbit.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The infratrochlear nerve is a branch of the nasociliary nerve. It originates between the superior oblique and medial rectus muscles where the nasociliary nerve ends by bifurcating into anterior ethmoidal nerve and infratrochlear nerve.
Course
From its origin, the infratrochlear nerve runs anteriorly through the medial aspect of the orbit. It runs on the superior edge of the medial rectus muscle and then under the trochlea of the superior oblique muscle. From here, it continues forward, leaving the orbit just above the superior lacrimal papilla to become cutaneous.
Branches
The infratrochlear nerve gives rise to palpebral branches.
Supplied Structures
The infratrochlear nerve is a sensory nerve that conveys general sensation from the skin of the medial eyelids and bridge of the nose, the medial conjunctiva, and superficial structures of the lacrimal apparatus along the medial orbit. These include the plica semilunaris, lacrimal sac, and the superior and inferior lacrimal papilla and puncta.
