Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a disease of unclear pathogenesis. It has a low incidence and is not fatal, but it can cause afflicted patients’ depression or suicide. In the past, neurovascular compression was considered to be the main cause of TN, but recent studies have found that neurovascular contact is also common in asymptomatic patients and the asymptomatic side in symptomatic patients. This indicates that the neurovascular contact is not, or is only to a lesser extent, a factor in the development of TN. Thus, the study of the peripheral branches of the trigeminal nerve is necessary to understand the etiology of TN. With the development of imaging technology and the emergence of various imaging modalities, it is possible to study the etiology of TN and the pathological changes of related structures by magnetic resonance neuroimaging. This article reviews the recent advances in magnetic resonance neuroimaging of the trigeminal nerve.

三叉神经痛（TN）是一种发病机制不明的疾病。它的发病率低，不致命，但会导致患者抑郁或自杀。过去，神经血管压迫被认为是TN的主要原因，但最近的研究发现，神经血管接触在无症状患者和有症状患者的无症状侧也常见。这表明神经血管接触不是或只是在较小程度上是 TN 发展的一个因素。因此，有必要研究三叉神经的外周分支以了解 TN 的病因。随着影像技术的发展和各种影像方式的出现，通过磁共振神经影像学研究TN的病因及相关结构的病理变化成为可能。