Which cranial nerve is associated with facial sensation?

The trigeminal nerve is the cranial nerve primarily responsible for facial sensation. It is the fifth cranial nerve and is divided into three branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. Each of these branches innervates different regions of the face, providing sensory information related to touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception.

The trigeminal nerve's extensive distribution across the face allows it to facilitate sensations that are crucial for protective reflexes and interactions with the environment. For instance, when you touch your face, the sensory information is transmitted through the trigeminal nerve, allowing you to feel and respond appropriately.

In contrast, the oculomotor nerve primarily controls eye movement and pupillary constriction, while the facial nerve is mainly responsible for motor functions of the muscles of facial expression and taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, but it does not carry general facial sensation. The optic nerve is solely responsible for vision. Therefore, the trigeminal nerve's primary role in conveying facial sensory information distinguishes it as the correct answer.