Nasociliary nerve

Last revised by Craig Hacking on 20 Sep 2020

The nasociliary nerve is the intermediate branch of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve.

Gross anatomy

The nasociliary nerve divides off the ophthalmic division just before entering the orbit through the superior orbital fissure and through the tendinous ring between the inferior and superior divisions of the oculomotor nerve. It courses from lateral to medial in the intraconal space superior to the optic nerve and between the superior oblique and medial rectus muscles 4 giving off branches to the globe:

It then pierces the myofascial cone and in the extraconal space gives off three branches along the medial wall of the orbit:

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