TRIGEMINAL IMPRESSION Meaning and
Definition
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Trigeminal impression is a medical term used to describe a specific anatomical feature found in the middle cranial fossa, which is a depression in the base of the skull. It is located on the inner surface of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, near the apex of the temporal bone.
The trigeminal impression is named after the trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve. This nerve is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the face to the brain, controlling functions such as touch, pain, and temperature sensation. It is the largest cranial nerve and is divided into three major branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular.
The trigeminal impression serves as a landmark used by anatomists and radiologists to identify the location of the trigeminal ganglion, a collection of nerve cell bodies that plays a crucial role in the processing and transmission of sensory information. This ganglion also serves as the point of origin for the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.
Understanding the trigeminal impression is important in clinical and surgical contexts, as it helps to guide medical professionals when navigating around the middle cranial fossa during procedures involving the trigeminal nerve or adjacent structures.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TRIGEMINAL IMPRESSION
Etymology of TRIGEMINAL IMPRESSION
The etymology of the word "trigeminal impression" can be broken down as follows:
1. Trigeminal: The word "trigeminal" comes from the Latin term "trigeminus", which means "threefold" or "threefold origin". It is derived from the combination of "tri-" meaning "three" and "geminus" meaning "double" or "twin". In anatomy, the trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve that carries sensory information from the face to the brain.
2. Impression: The word "impression" comes from the Latin term "impressio", which means "pressed into" or "a mark made by pressure". It is derived from the combination of "im-" meaning "into" and "pressus" meaning "pressed".
