Cutaneous nerve
Encyclopedia
A cutaneous nerve is a nerve
that innervates the skin
.
In human anatomy
, cutaneous nerves are responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin. They are generally thought of as sensory-only nerves, but they may provide motor innervation to structures in the skin, e.g. sweat glands.
There are many cutaneous nerves in the human body, only some of which are named.
Some of the larger cutaneous nerves are as follows:
Nerve
A peripheral nerve, or simply nerve, is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of peripheral axons . A nerve provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons. Nerves are found only in the peripheral nervous system...
that innervates the skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
.
Human anatomy
Dermatomes and major cutaneous nerves. |
In human anatomy
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
, cutaneous nerves are responsible for providing sensory innervation to the skin. They are generally thought of as sensory-only nerves, but they may provide motor innervation to structures in the skin, e.g. sweat glands.
There are many cutaneous nerves in the human body, only some of which are named.
Some of the larger cutaneous nerves are as follows:
Upper body
- In the arm (proper)
- Superior lateral cutaneous nerve of armSuperior lateral cutaneous nerve of armThe superior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm is the continuation of the posterior cord of the axillary nerve, after it pierces the deep fascia.-Course and targets:...
(Superior LCNOA) - Inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of armInferior lateral cutaneous nerve of armThe inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm is a nerve found in humans and other animals. It is also called the inferior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve...
(Inferior LCNOA) - Posterior cutaneous nerve of armPosterior cutaneous nerve of armThe posterior cutaneous nerve of arm is a branch of the radial nerve that provides sensory innervation for much of the skin on the back of the arm...
(PCNOA) - Medial cutaneous nerve of armMedial cutaneous nerve of armThe medial brachial cutaneous nerve is distributed to the skin on the medial brachial side of the arm.-Anatomy:...
(MCNOA)
- Superior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
- In the forearm
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of forearmLateral cutaneous nerve of forearmThe lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve passes behind the cephalic vein, and divides, opposite the elbow-joint, into a volar and a dorsal branch.-Volar branch:The volar branch descends along the radial border of the forearm to the...
(LCNOF) - Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearmPosterior cutaneous nerve of forearmThe posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm is a nerve found in humans and other animals. It is also known as the dorsal antebrachial cutaneous nerve, the external cutaneous branch of the musculospiral nerve, and the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve...
(PCNOF) - Medial cutaneous nerve of forearmMedial cutaneous nerve of forearmThe Medial Antebrachial Cutaneous Nerve arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus....
(MCNOF)
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm
Lower body
- In the thigh
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of thighLateral cutaneous nerve of thighThe lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh is a cutaneous nerve that innervates the skin on the lateral part of the thigh.-Structure:...
(LCNOT) - Posterior cutaneous nerve of thighPosterior cutaneous nerve of thighThe posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh provides innervation to the skin of the posterior surface of the thigh and leg, as well as to the skin of the perineum.-Structure:...
(PCNOT)
- Lateral cutaneous nerve of thigh
Other
- In the torsoTorsoTrunk or torso is an anatomical term for the central part of the many animal bodies from which extend the neck and limbs. The trunk includes the thorax and abdomen.-Major organs:...
- Ventral cutaneous branchesVentral cutaneous branchesThe ventral cutaneous branches are nerve branches that supply the skin of ventral part of torso. The rest of the torso is innervated by the lateral and dorsal cutaneous branches....
- Lateral cutaneous branches
- Dorsal cutaneous branchesDorsal cutaneous branchesThe dorsal cutaneous branches are nerve branches that supply the skin of dorsal part of torso. The rest of the torso is innervated by the lateral and ventral cutaneous branches....
- Ventral cutaneous branches
- In the neck & head:
- Supraorbital nerveSupraorbital nerveThe supraorbital nerve is a terminal branch of the frontal nerve.It passes through the supraorbital foramen, and gives off, in this situation, palpebral filaments to the upper eyelid...
- Infraorbital nerveInfraorbital nerveAfter the maxillary nerve enters the infraorbital canal, the nerve is frequently called the infraorbital nerve. This nerve innervates the lower eyelid, upper lip, and part of the nasal vestibule and exits the infraorbital foramen of the maxilla.-See also:...
- Mental nerveMental nerveMental nerve is a general somatic afferent nerve which provides sensation to the anterior aspects of the chin and lower lip as well as the buccal gingivae of the mandibular anterior teeth and the premolars...
- Buccal nerveBuccal nerveThe buccal nerve is a nerve in the face. It is a branch of the mandibular nerve and transmits sensory information from skin over the buccal membrane and from the second and third molar teeth.-Course:It courses between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle, underneath...
- Auriculotemporal nerveAuriculotemporal nerveThe auriculotemporal nerve is a branch of the mandibular nerve that runs with the superficial temporal artery and vein, and provides sensory innervation to various regions on the side of the head.-Origin:...
- Supraclavicular nervesSupraclavicular nervesThe supraclavicular nerves arise from the third and fourth cervical nerves; they emerge beneath the posterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus, and descend in the posterior triangle of the neck beneath the platysma and deep cervical fascia.-Branches:Near the clavicle they perforate the fascia...
(C3, C4) - Great auricular nerve (C2, C3)
- Greater occipital nerveGreater occipital nerveThe greater occipital nerve is a spinal nerve, specifically the medial branch of the dorsal primary ramus of cervical spinal nerve 2. This nerve arises from between the first and second cervical vertebrae, along with the lesser occipital nerve. It ascends after emerging from the suboccipital...
(C2)
- Supraorbital nerve