trigeminal nerve

American  

[trahy-jem-uhn-uhl nurv] / traɪˈdʒɛm ən əl ˈnɜrv /

noun

1. Anatomy. either one of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, consisting of motor fibers that innervate the muscles of mastication, and of sensory fibers that conduct impulses from the head and face to the brain.

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trigeminal nerve British  

noun

1. either one of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, which supply the muscles of the mandible and maxilla. Their ophthalmic branches supply the area around the orbit of the eye, the nasal cavity, and the forehead

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trigeminal nerve Scientific  

/ trī-jĕm′ə-nəl /

1. Either of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, having sensory and motor functions in the face, teeth, mouth, and nasal cavity.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trigeminal nerve

One of the most surprising discoveries involved the trigeminal nerve, a major facial nerve responsible for facial sensation and certain motor functions.

From Science Daily ● May 23, 2026

Trigeminal neuralgia is usually caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve - which transmits sensations of pain and touch from your face, teeth and mouth to the brain.

From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026

There are certain receptors in the trigeminal nerve that can respond to both smells and actual temperatures in the environment to trigger the sensation of temperature in a person.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2021

Brain scans suggest cluster headaches affect the hypothalamus, trigeminal nerve and autonomic nervous system.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 2, 2021

This condition may be induced reflexly from irrigation of the trigeminal nerve, notably of branches that supply the nasal cavities and the teeth.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Alexander Miles