Characteristics of the receptive fields in the infraorbital nerve of cat

Abstract

The relationship between the location of the nerve fascicle in the infraorbital nerve trunk and the location of the corresponding receptive field in the facial area was analyzed in cats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The receptive field of each fascicle was confirmed by the evoked action potentials. The nose and the area below the eyelid were often innervated by the same fascicle. On the contrary, the upper lip and the corner of the mouth were innervated by an individual fascicle respectively. The fascicles located in the medial part of the infraorbital nerve trunk innervate the nose and the area below the eyelid. The fascicles located in the central and the lateral parts of the trunk innervate the upper lip, the vibrissae and the corner of the mouth. These findings suggest that there are two groups of fascicles, each corresponding to the sensory inputs from the different areas of the facial skin.