Meningeal Branch of the Maxillary Nerve, Inferior View

Description

Viewed from below at the cranial base, the maxillary nerve (CN V2) is traced as it courses anteriorly in the region of the trigeminal ganglion and cavernous sinus, with a fine meningeal branch (recurrent meningeal nerve) turning posteriorly to reach the dura of the middle cranial fossa. Nearby basal landmarks typically include the brainstem with the pons centrally, the optic chiasm anterior and superior to the pituitary region, and the cerebellar surface posteriorly. Arterial and venous channels at the skull base run in close proximity to the cranial nerves, framing the small caliber dural filament as it approaches the meningeal layer. That tiny branch matters because it carries sensory afferents from the cranial dura, a key substrate in headache referral patterns, including pain perceived in the maxillary division distribution despite the intracranial origin. In skull base surgery and endoscopic endonasal approaches that traverse the pterygopalatine fossa, foramen rotundum, or adjacent parasellar corridors, distinguishing CN V2 proper from its recurrent meningeal twig helps clarify where dural traction or cautery can produce postoperative facial pain or dysesthesia. It is a small structure with an outsized clinical footprint. Use this plate for teaching the trigeminal nerve and meningeal innervation in neuroanatomy, dental anatomy, and ENT or neurosurgical skull base modules, where an inferior perspective helps orient learners to CN V pathways relative to the pituitary region, cavernous sinus contents, and basal vasculature. It also fits atlases and review articles discussing dural pain pathways, trigeminal-autonomic cephalalgias, and perioperative complications related to V2 manipulation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.