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

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

One was the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the skin and surface of the head.

From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2025

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 patient complains of a constant gnawing pain in the tongue, and of severe pain shooting along the branches of the trigeminal nerve, and especially towards the ear.

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