Mnemonic

Superior Orbital Fissure Contents

Mnemonic for the nerves passing through the superior orbital fissure.

Expansion

Live Free To See Anything

Mnemonic

“Live Frankly To See Absolutely No Insult”:

  • L - Lacrimal nerve (V1)
  • F - Frontal nerve (V1)
  • T - Trochlear nerve (IV)
  • S - Superior division of oculomotor (III)
  • A - Abducens (VI)
  • N - Nasociliary nerve (V1)
  • I - Inferior division of oculomotor (III)

The optic nerve does not pass here: it uses the optic canal, with the ophthalmic artery.

The three nerves outside the tendinous ring (lacrimal, frontal, trochlear) are the first three in the mnemonic, which is why a lesion confined to the ring spares them.

Expansion

  • CN III - Oculomotor
  • CN IV - Trochlear
  • CN V1 - Ophthalmic
  • CN VI - Abducens