Trigeminal ganglion

By
Dr.P.Priya
 Introduction
• This is the sensory ganglion of the fifth cranial nerve.
• It is homologus with the dorsal nerve root ganglia of
spinal nerves
• All such ganglia are made up of pseudounipolar
nerve cells,with a “T” shaped arrangement of their
process
• One process arises from the cell body which then
divides into a central and peripheral process
• The ganglion is cresentic or semilunar in shape,with
its convexity directed anterolaterally.

• The three divisions of the trigeminal nerve emerge

from this convexity

• The posterior concavity of the ganglion receives the

sensory root of the nerve
 Situation and meningeal relations
• The ganglion lies on the trigeminal impression ,on
the anterior surface of the petrous temporal bone
near its apex.
• It occupies a special space of duramater ,called the
trigeminal or Meckel”s cave
• There are two layers of dura below the ganglion
• The cave is lined by pia-arachnoid, so that the
ganglion along with the motor root of the trigeminal
nerve is surrounded by CSF.
• The ganglion lies at a depth of about 5cm from the
preauricular point
 Relations
Medially
Internal carotid artery
Posterior part of cavernous sinus
Laterally
Middle meningeal artery
Superiorly
Parahippocampal gyrus
Inferiorly
(a) Motor root of trigeminal nerve
(b) Greater petrosal nerve
(c) Apex of the petrous temporal bone
(d) The foramen lacerum
 Associated root and branches
• Central processes of the ganglion cells form the large
sensory root of the trigeminal nerve which is
attached to pons at its junction with the middle
cerebellar peduncle.
• The peripheral processes of the ganglion cells form
three divisions of the trigeminal nerve,namely the
opthalmic,maxillary,mandibular
• The small motor root of the trigeminal nerve is
attached to the pons supero medial to the sensory
root
• The small motor root passes under the ganglion from
its medial to lateral side ,and joins the mandibular
nerve at the foramen ovale
• Blood supply
The ganglion is supplied by twigs from
(a) Internal carotid
(b) Middle meningeal
(c) Accessory meningeal arteies
(d) By the meningeal branch of the ascending
pharyngeal artey
 Clinical anatomy
• Intractable facial pain due to trigeminal neuralgia or
carcinomatosis may be abolished by injectable into
the ganglion
• Sometimes cutting of the sensory root is necessary