trigeminal

American  

[trahy-jem-uh-nl] / traɪˈdʒɛm ə nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the trigeminal nerve.

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noun

1. Also called trigeminal nerve.  either one of the fifth pair of cranial nerves, consisting of motor fibers that innervate the muscles of mastication, and of sensory fibers that conduct impulses from the head and face to the brain.

trigeminal British  

/ traɪˈdʒɛmɪnəl /

adjective

1. anatomy of or relating to the trigeminal nerve

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Etymology

Origin of trigeminal

1820–30; < New Latin trigemin ( us ) ( Latin: triple, equivalent to tri- tri- + geminus twin, double) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Trigeminal neuralgia is usually caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve - which transmits sensations of pain and touch from your face, teeth and mouth to the brain.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026

One was the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the skin and surface of the head.

From Science Daily • Dec. 18, 2025

She was battling the chronic pain disorder trigeminal neuralgia.

From New York Times • Mar. 19, 2024

Before kicking “Boast Rattle” off, Ayers pauses to set a complimentary mood: “I’m gonna get into the Boasting spirit and talk to you guys about a brain disease I have called trigeminal neuralgia,” he begins.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2023

There is severe pain referred to the distribution of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander