N S Mohammed Sheriff

m
  
m









r 
m
 
m 6he greater petrosal nerve is a branch of the facial nerve that
arises from the geniculate ganglion, a part of the facial nerve
inside the facial canal. It enters the middle cranial fossa through
the hiatus for the greater petrosal nerve (on the anterior surface of
the petrous temporal bone). It proceeds towards the foramen
lacerum, where it joins the deep petrosal nerve (sympathetic) to
form the nerve of the pterygoid canal. 6he nerve of the pterygoid
canal passes through the pterygoid canal to reach the
pterygopalatine ganglion.
m SUPPLY: 6he greater petrosal nerve carries gustatory (taste) and
parasympathetic fibres. Postganglionic parasympathetic fibres
from pterygopalatine ganglion supply lacrimal gland and the
mucosal glands of the nose, palate, and pharynx. 6he gustatory
fibres do not relay in the ganglion and are distributed to the palate.
r 
m
 

m ë IGIN : Geniculate ganglion of facial nerve

m 6
MINA6IëN: Pterygopalatine ganglion

m SUPPLY: Lacrimal gland, mucous glands of

nose, palate and pharynx
m
 
Õ

 
Õ 
m 6he tympanic plexus has parasympathetic (preganglionic) roots
which contribute to the lesser petrosal nerve. Parasympathetic
contribution is from the tympanic nerve which branches from the
glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) in the jugular foramen
m 6he lesser petrosal nerve exits the temporal bone and enters the
middle cranial fossa through the hiatus of lesser petrosal nerve. In
some individuals it instead passes through the foramen ovale. It
then exits the middle cranial fossa through foramen ovale to the
otic ganglion where its parasympathetic fibers synapse. From the
otic ganglion, its fibers hitchhike with the auriculotemporal nerve
(from V3) to eventually innervate the parotid gland.
  m
 

m ë IGIN :6ympanic Plexus ² Preganglionic

parasympathetic fibres from IX-CN
m 6
MINA6IëN: ëtic ganglion

m SUPPLY: Parotid gland

m
 
„ mm
 
m 6he deep petrosal nerve (large deep petrosal nerve) is given
off from the carotid plexus, and runs through the carotid canal
lateral to the internal carotid artery.
m It then enters the cartilaginous substance which fills the
foramen lacerum, and joins with the greater superficial
petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, also
known as the Vidian nerve.
m It carries postsynaptic sympathetic nerve fibers to the
pterygopalatine ganglion, also known as the sphenopalatine
ganglion.
m 6hese fibers innervate blood vessels and mucous glands of
the head and neck
„ mm
 

m ë IGIN : Sympathetic Plexus around Internal

Carotid
m 6
MINA6IëN: Pterygopalatine Ganglion

m SUPPLY: Sympathetics fibres distribiuted through

branches of Pterygopalatine Ganglion
m
 


 G