Sensory Innervation of the Upper Eyelid

Abstract

The aim of this study was to elucidate the sensory territory of the trigeminal nerve on the upper eyelid.Eight hemifaces from Korean cadavers were dissected. The frontal nerve (FN), supraorbital nerve (SON), supratrochlear nerve (STN), infratrochlear nerve (ITN), and lacrimal nerve (LN) were traced.The terminal branches to the eyelid margin of FN were distributed between 1/6 and 2/5 of the palpebral fissure width lateral to the medial canthus and 1/6 of the eyebrow height from eyelid margin. The SON was distributed between 2/5 and 9/10 of the eye width lateral to the medial canthus, at 1/3 of the eyebrow height. The STN was distributed between -1/4 and -1/5 of the eye width medial to the medial canthus, at 1/5 of the eyebrow height. The ITN was distributed at -1/4 and 1/10 of the eye width medial to the medial canthus, and at 1/5 of the eyebrow height. The LN was distributed between approximately 3/5 and 13/10 of the eye width lateral to the medial canthus, and at 1/4 of the eyebrow height. The main branches of FN and SON ran deep to the orbicularis from the supraorbital notch to the upper border of the tarsal plate. In the pretarsal area, they were between the orbicularis and tarsal plate. The STN and ITN were between the orbicularis and the skin. The LN was observed between the orbicularis and the tarsal plate.Upper eyelid was mainly supplied by SON and FN. The medial extremity was supplied by STN and ITN, and the lateral extremity by LN.