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Review
. 2024 Oct 21;25(20):11306.
doi: 10.3390/ijms252011306.

The Trigeminal Sensory System and Orofacial Pain

Hyung Kyu Kim  1   2 , Ki-Myung Chung  3 , Juping Xing  1 , Hee Young Kim  1 , Dong-Ho Youn  2
Affiliations
Review

The Trigeminal Sensory System and Orofacial Pain

Hyung Kyu Kim et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

The trigeminal sensory system consists of the trigeminal nerve, the trigeminal ganglion, and the trigeminal sensory nuclei (the mesencephalic nucleus, the principal nucleus, the spinal trigeminal nucleus, and several smaller nuclei). Various sensory signals carried by the trigeminal nerve from the orofacial area travel into the trigeminal sensory system, where they are processed into integrated sensory information that is relayed to higher sensory brain areas. Thus, knowledge of the trigeminal sensory system is essential for comprehending orofacial pain. This review elucidates the individual nuclei that comprise the trigeminal sensory system and their synaptic transmission. Additionally, it discusses four types of orofacial pain and their relationship to the system. Consequently, this review aims to enhance the understanding of the mechanisms underlying orofacial pain.

Keywords: brainstem parasympathetic system; burning mouth syndrome; headache; mesencephalic nucleus; orofacial neuropathic pain; paratrigeminal nucleus; principal nucleus; spinal trigeminal nucleus; synaptic transmission; trigeminal ganglion; trigeminal neuralgia; trigeminal sensory nuclei.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The convergence of trigeminal nerves and autonomic parasympathetic nerves. V1, ophthalmic nerve; V2, maxillary nerve; V3, mandibular nerve; III, oculomotor nerve; VII, facial nerve; IX, glossopharyngeal nerve. Black color, trigeminal nerve branches; brown, preganglionic parasympathetic; light blue, postganglionic parasympathetic.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Selected primary afferent inputs and efferent outputs of the nuclei in the trigeminal sensory system. Mo5, trigeminal motor nucleus; 7, facial nucleus; 12, hypoglossal nucleus; Sp5, spinal trigeminal nucleus; NTS, nucleus of tractus solitarius; Su5, supratrigeminal nucleus; hyp, hypothalamus; VPM, ventroposteromedial nucleus; Po, posterior nucleus; ZI, zona incerta; Pr5, principle nucleus; SC, spinal cord; cSC, cervical spinal cord; Rf, reticular formation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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