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Trigeminal nerve
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Neuroanatomy/VJxVXoWm">neuroanatomy</a>, the trigeminal nerve (<a href="/facts/Literal_translation/0cF1oFRh">lit.</a> <i>triplet</i> nerve), also known as the fifth cranial nerve, cranial nerve V, or simply CN V, is a <a href="/facts/Cranial_nerve/8zAVI3Ua">cranial nerve</a> responsible for <a href="/facts/Sense/n9kYQ3rf">sensation</a> in the <a href="/facts/Face/I1PQ5YLY">face</a> and <a href="/facts/Motor_functions/IwK2rqNW">motor functions</a> such as <a href="/facts/Biting/n7TbsI05">biting</a> and <a href="/facts/Chewing/DdgB4W6f">chewing</a>; it is the most complex of the <a href="/facts/Cranial_nerves/8zAVI3Ua">cranial nerves</a>. Its name (<i>trigeminal</i>, from <a href="/facts/Latin_language/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> <i> tri-</i> 'three' and <i> -geminus</i> 'twin') derives from each of the two nerves (one on each side of the <a href="/facts/Pons/shkNEbH3">pons</a>) having three major branches: the <a href="/facts/Ophthalmic_nerve/9NtP63dF">ophthalmic nerve</a> (V1), the <a href="/facts/Maxillary_nerve/oCzztzr2">maxillary nerve</a> (V2), and the <a href="/facts/Mandibular_nerve/nqNleDY6">mandibular nerve</a> (V3). The ophthalmic and maxillary nerves are purely sensory, whereas the mandibular nerve supplies motor as well as sensory (or "<a href="/facts/Cutaneous/4havlLzG">cutaneous</a>") functions. Adding to the complexity of this nerve is that <a href="/facts/Autonomic_nervous_system/hdmEY1Ay">autonomic nerve fibers</a> as well as special <a href="/facts/Sensory_fibers/0JVWPqKP">sensory fibers</a> (<a href="/facts/Taste/mdB8ysuK">taste</a>) are contained within it. </p><p>The motor division of the trigeminal nerve derives from the <a href="/facts/Basal_plate_(neural_tube)/x9t7lF7N">basal plate</a> of the <a href="/facts/Embryo/9QHnLVLN">embryonic</a> <a href="/facts/Pons/shkNEbH3">pons</a>, and the sensory division originates in the <a href="/facts/Cranial_neural_crest/gYLo8MRe">cranial neural crest</a>. Sensory information from the face and body is processed by parallel pathways in the <a href="/facts/Central_nervous_system/k8I6To97">central nervous system</a>. </p>