Final answer:
The trigeminal nerve has three main branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular, which handle the somatosensory information from various parts of the face and head.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three large branches of the trigeminal nerve are the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. The correct answer to the student's question is thus a) Ophthalmic, Mandibular, Maxillary. These branches are responsible for carrying somatosensory information from the face, head, mouth, and nasal cavity. The ophthalmic nerve deals with sensations from the forehead, scalp, and front of the head. The maxillary nerve transmits sensory data from the middle part of the face, including the upper jaw, upper teeth, upper lip, and palate. Lastly, the mandibular nerve covers the lower part of the face, including the lower jaw, lower teeth, and some of the muscles involved in mastication.