The supratrochlear nerve is a nerve of the head and neck region. It is a terminal branch of the frontal nerve.
It supplies sensory innervation to the upper eyelid, forehead and scalp.
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Course
The supratrochlear nerve arises as a terminal branch of the frontal nerve (itself a branch of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve) within the roof of the bony orbit.
It follows the fibres of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle, running in an anteromedial direction through the orbit, and passing above the trochlea of the superior oblique.
The nerve leaves the bony orbit and enters the forehead via the frontal notch at the superomedial orbital rim. Here it supplies sensory fibres to the skin and conjunctiva of the upper eyelid.
The supratrochlear nerve passes deep to the corrugator and frontalis muscles before dividing into sensory branches that supply the anteromedial forehead.
Supply
The supratrochlear nerve supplies sensation to the following structures:
- Skin and conjunctiva of medial aspect of upper eyelid.
- Skin and pericranium of the anteromedial forehead and scalp (as far backwards as the vertex).