Motor and Sensory Facial Nerves
The motor nerves for the muscles of facial expression come from the facial nerve (CN VII). The muscles of mastication (the ones that move your mouth and jaw when you eat) are innervated by the mandibular nerve (motor fibers of CN V). Sensory nerves originate from a number of places, for example, sensory nerves to the skin covering the neck and posterior scalp come from the cervical nerves.
The branches of the facial nerve include the following:
Buccal branch: Innervates the muscles in the cheek and above the mouth
Cervical branch: Innervates the platysma
Marginal mandibular branch: Innervates the muscles of the lower lip and chin
Posterior auricular branch: Has branches that innervate the muscles around the ear and the occipitofrontal muscle
Temporal branch: Innervates the muscles that wrinkle the forehead, close the eyelids, and wiggle the ear
Zygomatic branches of the facial nerve: Innervate muscles that close the eye and raise the corners of the mouth
The following sensory, cutaneous nerves originate from the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1):
Supraorbital nerve: This nerve branches from the frontal nerve (largest branch of the ophthalmic nerve) and runs along the roof of the orbit, emerging from the supraorbital notch to the forehead. It innervates the frontal sinus, upper eyelid, and anterolateral part of the forehead and scalp.
Supratrochlear nerve: Branching from the frontal nerve, this nerve runs anteriorly and medially along the roof of the orbit to the forehead. It innervates the medial superior eyelid and anteromedial forehead.
Lacrimal nerve: This nerve branches from the ophthalmic nerve and runs through the orbit. It innervates the lacrimal gland and lateral part of the superior eyelid.
Infratrochlear nerve: Branching off the nasocillary nerve and running along the medial wall of the orbit, this nerve innervates the skin just lateral to the nose, the medial-most parts of the eyelids, the lacrimal sac, and the lacrimal caruncle (the red, fleshy part in the medial corner of the eye).
External nasal nerve: This nerve branches from the anterior ethmoidal nerve and runs between the nasal bone and lateral nasal cartilage. It innervates the skin of the nose.
The following three sensory, cutaneous nerves come from the maxillary nerve (CN V2):
Infraorbital nerve: This nerve comes from the maxillary nerve and runs through the orbital floor, emerging from the infraorbital foramen. It innervates the maxillary sinus, maxillary teeth, inferior eyelid, skin of the cheek, lateral nose, nasal septum, and upper lip.
Zygomaticofacial nerve: Branching from the zygomatic nerve and running along the zygomatic bone at the inferiolateral part of the orbit, this nerve exits the zygomaticofacial foramen of the zygomatic bone and innervates skin on the cheek.
Zygomaticotemporal nerve: This nerve branches off the zygomatic nerve. It exits via the zygomaticotemporal foramen of the zygomatic bone and innervates the skin over the temple.
Three more cutaneous nerves stem from the mandibular nerve (CN V3):
Auriculotemporal nerve: Branching off the mandibular nerve near the middle meningeal artery, this nerve runs posteriorly deep to the mandibular ramus and parotid gland. It innervates the skin in the posterior part of the temporal region, the skin of the auricle of the ear, the external acoustic meateus, and the external surface of the tympanic membrane.
Buccal nerve: This nerve is different from the buccal branch of the facial nerve. It branches from the mandibular nerve, runs between the pterygoid muscle, and emerges near the mandibular ramus. It innervates the skin and mucosa of the cheek and part of the gums.
Mental nerve: This nerve branches from the inferior alveolar nerve and emerges from the mandible through the mental foramen. It innervates the skin of the chin and the inside of the lower lip.
The following four sensory, cutaneous nerves are branches of the upper cervical spinal nerves:
Great auricular nerve: This nerve branches from the anterior rami of the 2nd and 3rd cervical spinal nerves and runs upward across the sternocleidomastoid posterior to the external jugular vein. It innervates the skin over the angle of the mandible, the parotid gland, and the earlobe.
Lesser occipital nerve: Also branching from the anterior rami of the 2nd and 3rd cervical spinal nerves, this nerve runs along the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid and goes up to the ear. It innervates the scalp behind the ear.
Greater occipital nerve: Branching off the posterior ramus of the 2nd cervical spinal nerve and passing through the trapezius, this nerve innervates the scalp of the occipital area.
3rd occipital nerve: This nerve branches off the posterior ramus of the 3rd cervical nerve and pierces the trapezius. It innervates the scalp in the occipital and suboccipital areas.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
abdomen
This region of the body starts along the bottom of the ribcage and extends to the hips. It’s visible from the front.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves
These sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nerves of the abdomen carry the presynaptic fibers to the abdomen and pelvis.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
anastomose
To join together.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
androgen hormones
Male sex hormones.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ankylosing spondylitis
An arthritic disease of the vertebral joints that results in hyperkyphosis and may restrict lung expansion if the disease spreads superiorly. It may lead to fusion of intervertebral joints and spinal column rigidity.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
anterior
In clinical anatomy, closer to the front of the body. For instance, the abdominal muscles are anterior to the spine.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
aponeurosis
The broad tendinous structure that attaches a muscle to another muscle.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
articulate
In clinical anatomy, to form a joint.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ball-and-socket joint
A ball-shaped head that fits into a bony socket. The shoulder and hip are ball-and-socket joints. This type of joint allows for free movement in several directions, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and lateral rotation, and circumduction.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
bilateral
On both the left and right sides of the body, such as the eyes, the kidneys, and the arms and legs.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
bladder
A thin-walled, bag-like organ that can hold up to two cups of urine.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
bony process
A projection of bone that sticks out from the arch found in vertebrae.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
brainstem
Connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
bursae
Fluid-filled sacs that help tendons glide over the bones and other tendons.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
bursitis
An inflammation of a bursa, which is usually the result of repetitive motion injuries.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
calcaneus
The part of the heel you stand on.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
cardiovascular disease
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
cartilaginous joints
The joint surfaces in cartilaginous joints are covered with hyaline cartilage and have fibrocartilaginous discs between them. Like fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints can be immoveable.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
cerebrum
The largest part of the brain; made up of the left and right cerebral hemispheres.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
cervical
The neck region; starts below the head, ends at the thorax, and is visible from the front and rear from below the head to the shoulders.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
circumduction
To move in a circular motion; doing arm circles, is circumduction.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
condyloid joints
Joints with an oval surface on one bone that articulates with an oval-shaped depression in another bone. The metacarpophalangeal joints in the fingers are examples of condyloid joints.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
contralateral
On opposite sides of the body. The right ear is contralateral to the left ear.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
corpus callosum
A band of nerve fibers that allows the sides of the brain to communicate with the other.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
dendrite
The receiving part of a neuron. The signal received at the dendrite is transmitted toward the cell body of the neuron in the form of an electrical impulse. The impulse is transmitted away from the cell body to another neuron, muscle, or gland by the axon.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
dermis
The lower layer of the skin containing collagen and elastic fibers that give strength to the skin.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
diencephalon
The central part of the brain, underneath the cerebrum.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
distal
Farther from the trunk or from the point of origin. The elbow is distal to the shoulder.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
dorsal
An anatomical region that runs from immediately below the neck down to the area below the waist. It doesn’t include the shoulders. It’s visible from the rear.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
dorsiflex
To move your foot and toes up.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
duodenum
The first segment of the small intestine.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
dural venous sinuses
The spaces between the two layers of the dura matter that collect blood from veins on the surface of the brain.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
elastic cartilage
Cartilage that contains elastic fibers in the matrix, so it’s more flexible than either hyaline or fibrocartilage; your ear has elastic cartilage.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
endoneurium
The delicate layer that surrounds each individual nerve fiber in the peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
epidermis
The tough layer outermost layer of skin. It gets its toughness from a protein called keratin.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
epineurium
The thick layer of connective tissue that surrounds a bundle of fascicles in the peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
esophagus
A muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
eversion
To move the bottom of your foot away from the midline of the body.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
facet
In clinical anatomy, a smooth joint-forming surface.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
fascia
A layer of fibrous connective tissue that covers muscle.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
fibrocartilage
This cartilage has a larger number of collagen fibers and less matrix. It’s found in the discs in joint spaces including the temporomandibular joint, knee joint, and joints between the bodies of the vertebrae.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
fibrous joints
The bones of a fibrous joint are connected by fibrous tissue. They range from being immovable (like joints between the bones of the skull) to being slightly moveable (joints between the tibia and fibula in the legs).

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
frontal planes
Imaginary vertical planes that clinical anatomy uses to define regions of the body. They pass through the body at right angles to the midsagittal plane, so they divide the body into front and back. Frontal (coronal) planes can divide the body at any point, so you need to use a reference point to know where exactly the plane passes.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ganglion
A collection of nerve-cell bodies similar to the nuclei of the central nervous system, except that these ganglia are only found in the peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
hila
The plural of hilum, and the hilum is the part of the lung where the bronchus and pulmonary artery enter and the pulmonary vein exits the lungs.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
hinge joint
A joint that allows flexion and extension (bending and straightening) of joints like the elbow and the knee.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
hyaline cartilage
This durable type of cartilage covers most of the bone surfaces in synovial joints. It’s also found in the nasal septum, rings of the trachea, and costal cartilages of the ribs, and it forms the epiphyseal plates of growing bones.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
hyperkyphosis
An abnormal increase in the thoracic curvature.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
hypertension
A condition in which blood pressure remains elevated over time. Having high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
inferior
Closer to the feet. The chin is inferior to the nose.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
intermuscular septa
The septa divide muscles into various groups.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
inversion
To move the bottom of your foot toward the midline of your body.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
investing fascia
This part of the fascia covers deeper structures, such as muscles and ligaments.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ipsilateral
On the same side of the body. For example, the right ear and the right eye are ipsilateral.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
keratin
A major structural component of the outer layers of skin.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
keratinocytes
These cells are constantly shed and replaced by cells from the lower layers of the epidermis. These cells have lost most of their internal structures and organelles.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
kidneys
Organs that filter the blood and produce urine.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
lateral
In clinical anatomy, away from the body’s midline. For example, the little toe is lateral to the big toe.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
lateral epicondyle
A bony prominence located proximal to the lateral condyle.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
lateral rotation
To move a body part around its long axis with the anterior surface moving away from the midline, like turning your whole lower extremity so your foot points out toward the side.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
manubrium
The superior part of the sternum.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
matrix
A structural component made of water, collagen fibers, and crystallized calcium salts.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
medullary cavity
Open space inside the bone.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
meninges
Coverings of the brain. They protect the brain by housing a fluid-filled space, and they function as a framework for blood vessels.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
midsagittal plane
An imaginary vertical plane that clinical anatomy uses to divide the body into left and right halves.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
multinucleated
Containing more than one nucleus.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
myoblasts
Embryonic muscle cells.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
myocardium
Muscle of the heart.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
nasal mucosa
Membranous lining of the nasal cavity that secretes mucus.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
neurocranium
The part of the cranium that holds the brain.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
osteoblasts
Cells that build up bone.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
osteoclasts
Cells that break down bone.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
osteocytes
Cells that maintain bone and collagen fibers.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
papillae
Small, rounded protuberances.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
parasympathetic stimulation
Constricts the bronchi, dilates blood vessels, and increases glandular secretions.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
perineurium
Dense connective tissue surrounding a bundle of nerve fibers called a fascicle in the peripheral nervous system.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
periorbita
A covering of fibrous connective tissue.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
pharyngotympanic tube
The eustachian tube.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
pivot joints
Joints that include a bone shaped like a pivot and a ring made of bone or ligament. Pivot joints, such as the atlantoaxial joint of the cervical spine, have rotational movements.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
plane joints
Joints with flat articular surfaces that allow for a sliding motion, such as the acromioclavicular joint of the shoulder.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
plantarflex
To point your toes down.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
popliteal fossa
A diamond-shaped space posterior to the knee joint, bordered by several muscles, skin, the popliteal fascia, the femur, and the joint capsule.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
posterior
Closer to the rear. The spine is posterior to the abdominal muscles.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
pronation
A medial rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly (toward the rear).

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
proximal
Closer to the trunk or closer to the point of origin. The shoulder is proximal to the elbow.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
retinacula
Band-like structures that hold tendons in place while joints move.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
retrusion
To move backward.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
rugae
Gastric folds that appear when the stomach muscle tissue is contracted.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
saddle joints
Joints that have the appearance of a saddle. The carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb is an example of a saddle joint.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
sagittal planes
Imaginary vertical planes that are parallel to the midsagittal plane and divide the body into unequal left and right portions. There are many possible sagittal planes, so you should always give a reference point where the plane passes through.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
scapula
The shoulder blade.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
sciatic foramen
The opening in the posterior portion of the pelvis formed by the sciatic notch of the ischium and the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligament.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
scoliosis
A rotation and lateral flexion of the spine that may twist and turn the thoracic cage.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
sebaceous glands
Glands connected to the hair follicles. They produce sebum, which is an oily substance that helps keeps the hair flexible.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
skeletal muscles
The muscles responsible for making the skeleton move. They’re voluntary muscles because you can control whether the muscles move.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
stratum basale
Forms the deepest layer of the skin. The cells of this layer continuously divide and form new keratinocytes to replace the ones that are constantly shed. This layer also contains melanocytes, which are the cells that produce skin coloring.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
stratum corneum
Dead, mature skin cells called keratinocytes. These cells are constantly shed and replaced by cells from the lower layers of the epidermis. These cells have lost most of their internal structures and organelles.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
stratum granulosum
The area of the skin where keratin is formed. The cells in this layer also produce materials that prevent evaporation, which helps waterproof the skin.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
stratum lucidum
Found in thicker skin; helps reduce friction between the stratum corneum and the stratum granulosum. It’s composed of dead, flattened cells.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
stratum spinosum
Contains keratin-producing cells that were formed in the stratum basale.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
subcutaneous layer
Area below the skin; underneath the cutaneous layer and is sometimes called the hypodermis or superficial fascia.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
subserous fascia
The part of the fascia that lies between the body walls such as the thoracic wall and the membranes that line corresponding body cavities.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
superficial
Closer to the surface. For instance, the skin is superficial to the muscles.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
superior
Closer to the top of the head. For example, the nose is superior to the chin.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
superior oblique muscle
The muscle that turns the eyeball inferiorly and laterally.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
supination
Lateral rotation of the forearm so the palm faces anteriorly.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
sympathetic stimulation
Causes bronchodilation and constricts the blood vessels.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
synapse
The junction in the brain where nerve impulses pass.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
synovial joints
A typical synovial joint includes bones covered in hyaline cartilage and a joint cavity lined with a synovial membrane and filled with synovial fluid. A durable fibrous joint capsule surrounds the joint. Some synovial joints also have fibrocartilaginous discs between the bones.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
thorax
The section of the body that starts immediately below the neck, at the clavicles, and ends along the bottom of the ribcage. It’s visible from the front.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
transverse planes
Imaginary horizontal planes that pass through the body at right angles to the midsagittal and the frontal planes. They divide the body into upper and lower portions. You need to have a reference point to know exactly where a transverse plane lies.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
tympanic membrane
The eardrum.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ureters
Two long tubes that lead to the urinary bladder.

Clinical Anatomy Glossary
ventral
Toward the abdomen.