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The trigeminal nerve, designated as cranial nerve V, is primarily responsible for sensation in the face, as well as motor functions such as biting and chewing. It consists of three branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular branches. These branches provide sensory innervation to various regions of the face, allowing for the perception of touch, pain, and temperature.

The trigeminal nerve is especially significant in conveying sensations of touch and pain from the face to the brain, where these sensations can be processed and responded to appropriately. This makes it a crucial nerve for facial sensory function.

In contrast, the facial nerve (VII) primarily controls facial expression and provides taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue but does not play a direct role in facial sensation for touch and pain. The optic nerve (II) is involved in vision, transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain, and has no involvement in facial sensation. Lastly, the olfactory nerve (I) is responsible for the sense of smell and does not contribute to touch or pain sensations in the facial region. Therefore, the trigeminal nerve is the sole cranial nerve that fulfills the role of processing sensations of touch and pain in the face effectively.