Which four regions does V2 give off branches in?

• A. Cranium, pterygopalatine fossa, infraorbital canal, & the face
• B. Orbit, nasal cavity, oral cavity, lips
• C. Temporal fossa, infratemporal fossa, orbit, cheek
• D. Brain, dura, meningeal spaces, orbit

Answer: (A)

V2, the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, sends its branches along four main regions as it travels from its origin to its terminal distribution. First, in the cranial cavity it can give small meningeal branches to the dura. Then, once it enters the pterygopalatine fossa, it branches widely to form the pterygopalatine network—including orbital, nasal, palatine, and zygomatic branches. Next, as it moves through the infraorbital canal, the infraorbital nerve gives off the superior alveolar branches (middle and anterior) within the canal. Finally, on the face, the nerve exits to supply the skin and deeper structures of the midface via the infraorbital, zygomaticotemporal, and zygomaticofacial branches, among others. This sequence—cranial cavity, pterygopalatine fossa, infraorbital canal, and the face—captures the regions where V2 gives off branches, making the first option the best fit.