Middle meningeal nerve

The middle meningeal nerve (meningeal or dural branch) is a sensory branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V₂). It arises in the region of the pterygopalatine fossa and enters the cranial cavity through foramen rotundum. The nerve accompanies the middle meningeal artery and vein once they enter the cranium through the foramen spinosum. The nerve supplies sensory fibers to portions of the dura mater of the middle cranial fossa. The middle meningeal nerve is clinically relevant in conditions involving meningeal pain and in surgical procedures that involve the middle cranial fossa.