Damage to the nerve passing through the highlighted foramen would cause what deficit?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Foramen ovale transmits the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve, which carries motor fibers to the muscles of mastication (masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoids) and sensory fibers from the lower face and anterior two-thirds of the tongue (general sensation). Damage to the nerve in this foramen therefore produces weakness of mastication.

1) Relevant knowledge points and concepts
- Major skull base foramina and their contents: foramen ovale → mandibular nerve (V3); foramen rotundum → maxillary nerve (V2); superior orbital fissure → CN III, IV, V1, VI; internal acoustic meatus → CN VII and VIII; stylomastoid foramen → facial nerve exit.
- Functions of the involved nerves: V3 supplies motor fibers to muscles of chewing; V2 supplies sensory to midface; CN VII (facial) supplies muscles of facial expression; CN VI (abducens) abducts the eye; CN VIII mediates hearing.

2) Step-by-step reasoning
- The highlighted openings are in the greater wing of the sphenoid, lateral to the sella turcica and posterior to the foramen rotundum — the anatomical position of the foramen ovale.
- Foramen ovale transmits the mandibular division (V3) of CN V.
- Injury to V3 at this foramen impairs motor output to muscles of mastication, producing difficulty chewing.

3) Calculations
- Not applicable; this is an anatomical reasoning problem (no numerical calculations required).

4) Why the correct answer is correct
- Because V3 contains the motor fibers that drive the jaw-closing and jaw-opening muscles. Lesion of V3 at the foramen ovale directly weakens these muscles, causing difficulty with mastication.

5) Why the other options are incorrect
- Loss of hearing: mediated by CN VIII via the internal acoustic meatus, not the foramen ovale.
- Loss of sensation of the mid face: mediated by V2 through the foramen rotundum, not V3/foramen ovale.
- Inability to abduct the eye: due to CN VI dysfunction (lateral rectus), which traverses the superior orbital fissure, not the foramen ovale.
- Inability to move muscles of facial expression: due to CN VII dysfunction; the facial nerve exits the skull at the stylomastoid foramen, not the foramen ovale.

Conclusion: Damage to the nerve passing through the highlighted foramen (foramen ovale) would cause difficulty chewing (mastication), which matches the provided answer.

Damage to the nerve passing through the highlighted foramen would cause what deficit?Single choice

Similar Questions

The skin of the face is innervated by which nerve?

The trigeminal nerve has which of the following functions?

Which cranial nerve branch passes through the foramina indicated by the blue arrow in this image? [input]

Please match the following to the letters label on the image[Fill in the blank]

In Australia, voting is compulsory in what elections?[Fill in the blank]

What are the colours of the Australian Aboriginal Flag?[Fill in the blank]

What do we remember on Anzac Day?[Fill in the blank]

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler