Nerves of orbit (Lateral view: eyeball removed) (English)

The nasociliary nerve arises from the ophthalmic branch (CN V1) of the trigeminal nerve and runs obliquely forward through the orbit. Along the way it gives off the long ciliary (not shown), posterior and anterior ethmoidal and infratrochlear nerves. The nasociliary nerve conveys sensation from the skin of the dorsum of the nose, eyelids, medial conjunctiva, membranes of the ethmoidal air cell, sphenoid sinus and portions of the nasal cavity. It also transmits sympathetic fibers which supply sensory fibers to the sclera, cornea, iris and ciliary body through the ciliary ganglion.