Glossary

Author: Glossary

  • Mixed nerve

    A nerve containing both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) fibers.  

  • Mandibular nerves

    Any of the three divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V). It is a mixed sensory and motor nerve. Branch of the fifth cranial nerve that affects the muscles of the chin, lower lip, and external ear.  

  • Intermediate nerve

    The smaller of the two divisions of the facial nerve (CN VII).  

  • Inhibitory nerve

    A nerve whose signals decrease the activity of target cells, organs, or tissues.  

  • Infratrochlear nerve

    A sensory nerve and branch of the nasociliary nerve (which is itself a branch of the ophthalmic division [CN VI] of the trigeminal nerve). The infratrochlear nerve receives sensation from the upper eyelid and the upper portion of the nose.  

  • Iliohypogastric nerve

    A nerve emerging from the lumbar plexus and carrying axons mainly from spinal segment LI to the internal oblique and transverse abdominal muscles and to the skin of the lower abdomen.  

  • Facial nerves

    A mixed nerve consisting of efferent fibers supplying the facial muscles, the platysma muscle, the submandibular and sublingual glands; and of afferent fibers from taste buds of the anterior two thirds of the tongue and from the muscles. The afferent fibers originate from the geniculate ganglion and the motor and secretory fibers from nuclei in…

  • Excitoreflex nerves

    A visceral nerve whose stimulation causes reflex action.  

  • Excitatory nerves

    A nerve that transmits impulses that stimulate function.  

  • Dorsal nerve

    The branch of a spinal nerve that passes dorsally to innervate skin, muscle, and bone near the vertebral column. It is also called a dorsal ramus or posterior branch. A nerve that extends up from the toes and foot, just under the skin, supplying impulses to toes and foot, as well as the muscles and…