Chapter: Human Nervous System and Sensory Organs : Brain Stem and Cranial Nerves
Pterygopalatine Ganglion
Pterygopalatine Ganglion
The
pterygopalatine ganglion (AB10) lies
at the anterior wall of the pterygopalatine fossa below the maxillary nerve (AB11), which gives off ganglionic branches (pterygo-palatine nerves) (AB12) to the ganglion(sensory root). The parasympathetic
secretory fibers from the superior salivatory nucleus extend in the facial
nerve (interme-diate nerve) (AB13)
up to the genu of the fa-cial nerve where they branch off as the greater petrosal nerve (AB14). The nervepasses through the foramen lacerum to the base of the skull
and through the pterygoidcanal to the
ganglion (parasympathetic root).
Sympathetic fibers from the carotidplexus form the deep petrosal nerve (AB15)
(sympathetic root) and join the
greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve
of the ptery-goid canal (AB16).
The
branches leaving the ganglion carry secretory fibers for the lacrimal gland and
for the glands of the nasal cavity. The para-sympathetic fibers (B17) for the lacrimal gland (AB18) synapse in the ganglion. The
postganglionic fibers run in the ganglionic branches (AB12) to the maxillary nerve (AB11)
and reach the lacrimal gland via the zygomatic nerve (AB19) and its anastomosis (A20)
with the lacrimal nerve (A21).
The
remaining parasympathetic secretory fibers run in the orbital branches (B22)
to the posterior ethmoidal cells, in the lateral
poste-rior nasal branches (B23)
to the nasal con-chae, in the nasopalatine
nerve across the nasal septum and through the incisive canal, and in the palatine
nerve (AB24) to the hard and
soft palates.
The taste fibers (B25) for the soft palate run in the palatine nerves and in the
greater petrosal nerve.
A26 Trigeminal ganglion.
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