The three branches of the fifth cranial nerve are named

• A. Ophthalmic, Maxillary, Mandibular
• B. Facial, Vestibular, Cochlear
• C. Superior, Middle, Inferior
• D. Anterior, Posterior, Lateral

Answer: (A)

The trigeminal (fifth) cranial nerve splits into three branches that cover different regions of the face and include a motor component. The ophthalmic branch carries sensory input from the forehead, scalp, upper eyelid, and cornea. The maxillary branch provides sensory information from the midface—lower eyelid, cheek, upper lip, upper teeth, and the palate. The mandibular branch is mixed: it supplies sensation to the lower face (jaw, chin, lower teeth) and also provides motor innervation to the muscles used for chewing.

So, the named branches—ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular—are the correct set because they reflect the actual divisions of the trigeminal nerve. The other options refer to different nerves or regions that aren’t the three branches of the fifth nerve.