The trigeminal nerve. Part I: An over-view.

The trigeminal nerve is the largest and most complex of twelve cranial nerves. Its vast size and influence are greatly appreciated when one attempts to diagnose and treat patients suffering from orofacial pain and temporomandibular joint disorders. Without a thorough knowledge of the trigeminal nerve, the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures will be very disappointing. This is the first of a four-part series of articles about the trigeminal nerve, a basic over-view of both the gross and neuroanatomical structures is presented.