Abstract
The trigeminal nerve (TGN) is the fifth cranial nerve and has three components: the ophthalmic (V1), the maxillary (2), and the mandibulary (V3) divisions. The TGN presents gross anatomical, microanatomical, electrophysiological, and histological particularities dominated by its somatotopic organization, not only at level of the ganglion and the triangular plexus part of the retrogasserian portion of the root, but also—although to a lesser degree—in its cisternal and TREZ (Trigeminal Root Entry Zone) portions. Regarding classical trigeminal neuralgias, the somatotopic organization of the fibers explains the concordance between the location of the neurovascular conflict with its resulting insult and the distribution of the pain. Also, the somatotopic organization permits targeting the lesioning-techniques to obtain a selective analgesia/hypoesthesia corresponding to the trigger zone(s) and covering the trigeminal division(s) involved, whilst sparing the rootlets not related to the clinical manifestations.
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Sindou, M., Brinzeu, A. (2023). Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve (TGN). In: Trigeminal Neuralgias: A Neurosurgical Illustrated Guide. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25113-9_3
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