Trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve. It is a mixed nerve containing both the motor and sensory fibres but predominantly it is sensory. It is a motor nerve to the muscles of mastication and several small muscles and the principal sensory nerve of the head and face. It consists of three large nerves: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular, hence the name trigeminal nerve (L. trigeminus = triplet). Key concept: Mandibular nerve supplies muscles of mastication mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, and tensor tympani. Posterior belly of digastric and stapedius are supplied by Facial nerve.
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