Quick Facts
Origin: Maxillary nerve.
Course: Runs anteriorly through the inferior orbital fissure in the inferior and lateral portion of the orbit before terminating.
Branches: Zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial branches. It also sends a communication to the lacrimal nerve.
Supply: Sensory: conveys general sensation from the skin of the upper cheek, zygomatic arch, and anterior inferior temple; Parasympathetic: fibers run with the zygomatic nerve in the orbit before communicating with the lacrimal nerve to innervate the lacrimal gland.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve. It originates in the upper pterygopalatine fossa shortly after the maxillary nerve enters this space.
Course
The zygomatic nerve runs anteriorly into the orbit via the inferior orbital foramen. It continues anteriorly along the inferior lateral wall of the orbit until it ends by branching into the zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial branches.
Branches
The zygomatic nerve gives rise to two nerves, the zygomaticotemporal nerve, which exits the orbit via the zygomaticotemporal foramen, and the zygomaticofacial nerve, which exits the orbit via the zygomaticofacial foramen. Additionally, the parasympathetic fibers will communicate with the lacrimal nerve either directly off the zygomatic nerve, or as a communication from the zygomaticotemporal nerve.
Supplied Structures
The zygomatic nerve is a mixed nerve containing both general sensory fibers and postganglionic parasympathetic fibers.
The sensory fibers convey general sensory information from the skin of the anterior inferior temple, the zygomatic bone and arch, and the upper cheek. This occurs via the zygomaticotemporal and zygomaticofacial branches of the zygomatic nerve.
The parasympathetic fibers run with the zygomatic nerve into the orbit before communicating superiorly and into the periorbital fascia to reach the lacrimal nerve and their target, the lacrimal gland.
