494 NEUROLOGY. 



into several branches, some distributed to the skin of the fore- 

 head, others to the muscles above the eye. This nerve com- 

 municates, and forms a plexus with the anterior auricular nerve. 



The lachrymal nerve, the smallest of the three, passes straight 

 up to the lachrymal gland, which it supplies, together with 

 branches to the muscles and tegument of the anterior part of the 

 ear, com'municating with the anterior auricular nerve. 



The nasal or palpebro-nasal nerve, the largest branch of the 

 ophthalmic, curves inwards between the retractor and levator 

 oculi, and re-enters the cranial cavity through the internal orbital 

 foramen, with the ophthalmic artery ; it then passes through the 

 cribriform plate of the ethmoid, and divides into two branches, 

 which ramify in the pituitary membrane on the walls of the nasal 

 fossa. Before entering the internal orbital foramen, it gives off a 

 long branch to the membrana nictitans and lower eyelid, another 

 to the lachrymal sac, and sensory roots to the ophthalmic gang- 

 lion. 



The Superior maxillary nerve leaves the cranium through 

 the foramen rotundum, and gains the orbit in company with the 

 internal maxillary artery, crosses the lower part of the orbit, 

 enters the maxillary hiatus, passes through the infraorbital or dental 

 canal, and emerges on the face, at the infraorbital foramen, where 

 it divides into numerous facial branches. The lateral branches 

 of the superior maxillary nerve are : — 



1. The orbital branch, which leaves the trunk in the orbit, 

 and is distributed to the eyelids and integument. 



2. The anterior palatine or palato -maxillary, which enters 

 the palatine foramen, and accompanies the palatine artery, giving 

 branches to the palate and gums. 



3. The posterior palatine, or staphyline, which accompanies 

 the staphyline artery, and is distributed to the soft palate. 



4. The spheno-palatine, or nasal, which passes through the 

 spheno-palatine foramen, is distributed to the mucous membrane 

 of the nasal chamber, and sends a branch to the spheno-palatine 

 or Meckel's ganglion. 



5. The dental branches, which are given otf behind, and in 

 the infraorbital canal, consist of posterior and anterior ; the 

 former supplying the molar teeth, and sending a. branch to the 

 maxillary sinus, and the latter furnishing nerves to the incisor 

 and canine teeth. 



The terminal branches of the superior maxillary nerve, supe- 



