Nerve Supply

 

👁️‍🗨️ Nerve Supply of the Eyelids

1️⃣ Motor Innervation (for eyelid movement)

Muscle	Action	Nerve Supply
Orbicularis oculi	Closes eyelids	Facial nerve (CN VII)
Levator palpebrae superioris	Opens upper eyelid	Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Müller's muscle (superior tarsal)	Assists upper eyelid elevation	Sympathetic fibers (from superior cervical ganglion)

✅ Clinical Tip:

• CN VII palsy → Incomplete eye closure (lagophthalmos)

• CN III palsy → Ptosis (droopy lid)

• Horner’s syndrome → Mild ptosis (due to loss of Müller’s muscle)

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2️⃣ Sensory Innervation (skin & conjunctiva)

✅ Upper Eyelid (mainly CN V₁ – Ophthalmic division of Trigeminal Nerve)

• Supratrochlear nerve

• Supraorbital nerve

• Lacrimal nerve

• Infratrochlear nerve

✅ Lower Eyelid (mainly CN V₂ – Maxillary division of Trigeminal Nerve)

• Infraorbital nerve

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3️⃣ Autonomic Innervation (for glands)

• Parasympathetic fibers (via CN VII) to:

  • Lacrimal gland (tear production)

  • Meibomian glands (indirectly)

• Sympathetic fibers to:

  • Müller's muscle (eyelid elevation)

  • Blood vessels and sweat glands

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🔎 Summary Table

Component	Type	Nerve Supply
Eyelid skin	Sensory	CN V₁ (upper), CN V₂ (lower)
Orbicularis oculi	Motor	CN VII (Facial nerve)
Levator palpebrae sup.	Motor	CN III (Oculomotor)
Müller's muscle	Motor (auto)	Sympathetic fibers
Lacrimal gland	Parasymp.	CN VII → greater petrosal → pterygopalatine ganglion