Which division exits the skull via the foramen ovale?

Which division exits the skull via the foramen ovale?

• A. Ophthalmic (V1)
• B. Maxillary (V2)
• C. Mandibular (V3)
• D. None

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the trigeminal nerve splits into three divisions, each using a different skull exit. The mandibular division is the one that exits the skull through the foramen ovale, entering the infratemporal fossa where it provides sensory innervation to the lower face and motor fibers to the muscles of mastication. In contrast, the ophthalmic division travels through the superior orbital fissure into the orbit, and the maxillary division passes through the foramen rotundum into the pterygopalatine region and then onward. Because only the mandibular division uses the foramen ovale, that is the correct answer.

The key idea is that the trigeminal nerve splits into three divisions, each using a different skull exit. The mandibular division is the one that exits the skull through the foramen ovale, entering the infratemporal fossa where it provides sensory innervation to the lower face and motor fibers to the muscles of mastication. In contrast, the ophthalmic division travels through the superior orbital fissure into the orbit, and the maxillary division passes through the foramen rotundum into the pterygopalatine region and then onward. Because only the mandibular division uses the foramen ovale, that is the correct answer.