The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve (a trigeminal nerve

Trigeminal nerve

The trigeminal nerve contains both sensory and motor fibres. It is responsible for sensation in the face and certain motor functions such as biting, chewing, and swallowing. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the central nervous system...

 branch) that enters the orbit

Orbit (anatomy)

In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated. "Orbit" can refer to the bony socket, or it can also be used to imply the contents...

 and helps to supply the skin over the zygomatic

Zygomatic bone

The zygomatic bone is a paired bone of the human skull. It articulates with the maxilla, the temporal bone, the sphenoid bone and the frontal bone. The zygomatic is homologous to the jugal bone of other tetrapods...

 and temporal bone

Temporal bone

The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...

s. The zygomatic nerve is not to be confused with the zygomatic branches of the facial nerve.

Structure

The zygomatic nerve arises in the pterygopalatine fossa

Pterygopalatine fossa

The pterygopalatine fossa is a fossa in the skull. It is the indented area medial to the pterygomaxillary fissure leading into the sphenopalatine foramen.-Boundaries:It has the following boundaries:...

. It enters the orbit by the inferior orbital fissure

Inferior orbital fissure

Not to be confused with the infraorbital groove, infraorbital canal, and infraorbital foramen.The lateral wall and the floor of the orbit are separated posteriorly by the inferior orbital fissure which transmits the maxillary nerve and its zygomatic branch, and the ascending branches from the...

, and divides at the back of that cavity into two branches, the zygomaticotemporal nerve

Zygomaticotemporal nerve

The zygomaticotemporal nerve or zygomaticotemporal branch is derived from the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve...

 and zygomaticofacial nerve

Zygomaticofacial nerve

The zygomaticofacial nerve or zygomaticofacial branch of zygomatic nerve passes along the infero-lateral angle of the orbit, emerges upon the face through the zygomaticofacial foramen in the zygomatic bone, and, perforating the Orbicularis oculi to reach the skin of the malar area.It joins with...

.

The zygomatic nerve carries sensory fibers from the skin. It also carries post-synaptic parasympathetic fibers (originating in the pterygopalatine ganglion

Pterygopalatine ganglion

The pterygopalatine ganglion is a parasympathetic ganglion found in the pterygopalatine fossa. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck....

) to the lacrimal nerve

Lacrimal nerve

The lacrimal nerve is the smallest of the three branches of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve.It sometimes receives a filament from the trochlear nerve, but this is possibly derived from the branch that goes from the ophthalmic to the trochlear nerve.It passes forward in a separate...

 via a communication. These fibers will eventually provide innervation to the lacrimal gland

Lacrimal gland

The lacrimal glands are paired almond-shaped glands, one for each eye, that secrete the aqueous layer of the tear film. They are situated in the upper, outer portion of each orbit, in the lacrimal fossa of the orbit formed by the frontal bone. Inflammation of the lacrimal glands is called...

.These parasympathetic fibers come from the facial cranial nerve which is the seventh CN.

External links