NERVE SUPPLY OF HEAD & NECK – Concise Lecture Notes

May 26, 2025
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TOPIC: NERVE SUPPLY OF HEAD & NECK

📌OVERVIEW

👉 The head and neck region receives motor, sensory, and autonomic innervation from:

  • 12 Cranial nerves (CN I–XII)

  • Cervical spinal nerves (C1–C4) – from cervical plexus

  • Sympathetic chain – cervical part

1️⃣ CRANIAL NERVES INVOLVED

A. Sensory Supply

  • Trigeminal nerve (CN V) – main sensory nerve of face, orbit, oral & nasal cavity

    • V1 (ophthalmic): forehead, upper eyelid, cornea

    • V2 (maxillary): cheeks, upper lip, maxillary teeth

    • V3 (mandibular): lower lip, lower face, mandibular teeth, anterior 2/3 tongue (general sensation)

  • Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) – posterior 1/3 of tongue, oropharynx

  • Vagus nerve (CN X) – laryngopharynx, larynx, external ear, thoracic and abdominal viscera

Human Anatomy