SUPERIOR MAXILLARY NERVE. 601 



the malar bone, where it is frequently divided into two filaments. In the 

 prominent part of the cheek this nerve communicates with the facial nerve. 



Fig. 406. 



Fig. 406. SUPERIOR MAXILLARY NERVE AND SOME OF THE ORBITAL NERVES (from 

 Sappey after Hirschfeld and Leveille). 3 



1, the Gasserian ganglion ; 2, lachrymal branch of the ophthalmic nerve; 3, trunk of the 

 superior maxillary nerve ; 4, its orbital branch, joining at 5, the palpebral twig of the 

 lachrymal ; 6, origin of its malar twig ; 7, its temporal twig ; 8, spheno-palatine ganglion ; 

 9, Vidian nerve ; 10, its upper branch or great superficial petrosal nerve proceeding to join 

 the facial nerve (11) ; 12, union of the lower branch of the Vidian nerve with the carotid 

 branch of the sympathetic ; 13, 14, posterior dental nerves ; 15, terminal branches of the 

 infrnorbital nerves ramifying on the side of the nose and upper lip ; 16, a branch of the 

 facial uniting with some of the twigs of the infraorbital. 



POSTERIOR DENTAL BRANCHES. 



The posterior dental branches, two in number, are directed downwards 

 and outwards over the back part and tuberosity of the maxillary bone. 



One of the branches enters a canal in the bone by which it is conducted 

 to the teeth, and gives forwards a communicating filament to the anterior 

 dental nerve. It ends in filaments to the molar teeth and the lining mem- 

 brane of the maxillary sinus, and near the teeth joins a second time with 

 the anterior dental nerve. 



The anterior of the two branches, lying on the surface of the bone, is 

 distributed to the gums of the upper jaw and to the buccinator muscle. 



ANTERIOR DENTAL BRANCH. 



The anterior dental branch, leaving the trunk of the nerve at a varying 

 distance behind its exit from the infraorbital foramen, enters a special canal 

 in front of the antrum of Highmore. In this canal it receives the com- 

 municating filament from the posterior dental nerve, and divides into two 

 branches, which furnish offsets for the front teeth. 



(a) The inner branch supplies the incisor and canine teeth. Filaments from this 

 nerve enter the lower meatus of the nose, and end in the membrane covering the 

 lower spongy bone. Also above the root of the canine tooth, it unites with a branch of 

 the posterior nasal nerve from Meckel's ganglion, and forms with it a small thickening, 



