Corpus: Zygomatic nerve

The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve.

The zygomatic nerve branches off from the maxillary nerve in the pterygopalatine fossa where it picks up postganglionic parasympathetic fibers. It then travels through the inferior orbital fissure into the eye socket (orbit). In the orbit, it gives off a communicating branch to the lacrimal nerve (ramus communicans cum nervi lacrimali) and divides into two branches:

• zygomaticotemporal nerve
• zygomaticofacial nerve

The zygomatic nerve supplies the skin above the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) and the temporal bone. The parasympathetic fibers of the facial nerve (greater petrosal nerve), originating from the pterygopalatine ganglion, join the lacrimal nerve and innervate the lacrimal gland, providing visceral efferent (secretomotor) innervation.