What foramen does the infraorbital nerve exit?

• A. Infraorbital foramen
• B. Foramen rotundum
• C. Mental foramen
• D. Supraorbital foramen

Answer: (A)

The infraorbital nerve exits onto the face through the infraorbital foramen. After traveling in the infraorbital canal within the maxilla, this nerve emerges at the infraorbital foramen just below the orbit, then continues as branches to the midface and upper lip (and toward the teeth as needed). This location is also the typical site for an infraorbital nerve block in local anesthesia practice.

Other foramina listed correspond to different routes: the foramen rotundum is where V2 enters the pterygopalatine fossa from the cranial cavity; the mental foramen transmits the mental nerve (a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve) to the chin; the supraorbital foramen allows the supraorbital nerve to pass to the forehead.