trigeminal

American  

[trahy-jem-uh-nl] / traɪˈdʒɛm ə nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the trigeminal nerve.

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noun

1. Also called trigeminal nerve.  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.

trigeminal British  

/ traɪˈdʒɛmɪnəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of or relating to the trigeminal nerve

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Etymology

Origin of trigeminal

1820–30; < New Latin trigemin ( us ) ( Latin: triple, equivalent to tri- tri- + geminus twin, double) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

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

In April 2024, Mr Lowe was diagnosed by a consultant neurologist at the Southern Health Trust with a “painful trigeminal neuropathy” which had “the Covid vaccine as its main causative factor”.

From BBC • Oct. 13, 2024

She was battling the chronic pain disorder trigeminal neuralgia.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2024

After performing at a 2021 trigeminal neuralgia awareness fundraiser in Chicago, he met people who had been living with TN for 10 or 15 years.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2023

The anterior half of the medial tendon lies ventral to the lateral edge of M. pseudotemporalis profundus and the mandibular ramus of the trigeminal nerve.

From Jaw Musculature of the Mourning and White-winged Doves by Merz, Robert L.