| Nerve: Pterygopalatine ganglion |
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| Alveolar branches of superior maxillary nerve and pterygopalatine ganglion. (Sphenopalatine ganglion labeled at center top.) |
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| The pterygopalatine ganglion and its branches. (Pterygopalatine ganglion visible but not labeled, as large yellow ganglion in upper-right center.) |
| Latin |
g. pterygopalatinum |
| Gray's |
subject #200 891 |
| From |
maxillary nerve, Nerve of pterygoid canal |
| To |
Greater palatine nerve, Lesser palatine nerve, Posterior lateral nasal branches, Nasopalatine nerve |
The pterygopalatine ganglion (Synonym: ganglion pterygopalatinum, meckel's ganglion, nasal ganglion, sphenopalatine ganglion) is a parasympathetic ganglion found in the pterygopalatine fossa. It's largely innervated by the greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial nerve); and its axons project to the lacrimal glands and nasal mucosa. The flow of blood to the nasal mucosa, in particular the venous plexus of the conchae, is regulated by the pterygopalatine ganglion and heats or cools the air in the nose. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck, the others being the submandibular ganglion, otic ganglion, and ciliary ganglion.
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Contents
- 1 Structure
- 2 Roots
- 2.1 Sensory root
- 2.2 Parasympathetic root
- 2.3 Sympathetic root
- 2.4 Branches
- 3 Additional images
- 4 External links
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Structure [edit]
The pterygopalatine ganglion (of Meckel), the largest of the parasympathetic ganglia associated with the branches of the maxillary nerve, is deeply placed in the pterygopalatine fossa, close to the sphenopalatine foramen. It is triangular or heart-shaped, of a reddish-gray color, and is situated just below the maxillary nerve as it crosses the fossa.
The pterygopalatine ganglion supplies the lacrimal gland, paranasal sinuses, glands of the mucosa of the nasal cavity and pharynx, the gingiva, and the mucous membrane and glands of the hard palate. It communicates anteriorly with the nasopalatine nerve.
Roots [edit]
It receives a sensory, a parasympathetic, and a sympathetic root.
Sensory root [edit]
Its sensory root is derived from two sphenopalatine branches of the maxillary nerve; their fibers, for the most part, pass directly into the palatine nerves; a few, however, enter the ganglion, constituting its sensory root.
Parasympathetic root [edit]
Its parasympathetic root is derived from the nervus intermedius (a part of the facial nerve) through the greater petrosal nerve.
In the pterygopalatine ganglion, the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the greater petrosal branch of the facial nerve synapse with neurons whose postganglionic axons, vasodilator, and secretory fibers are distributed with the deep branches of the trigeminal nerve to the mucous membrane of the nose, soft palate, tonsils, uvula, roof of the mouth, upper lip and gums, and upper part of the pharynx. It also sends postganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the lacrimal nerve (a branch of the Ophthalmic nerve, also part of the trigeminal nerve) via the zygomatic nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve (from the trigeminal nerve), which then arrives at the lacrimal gland.
The nasal glands are innervated with secretomotor from the nasopalatine and greater palatine nerve. Likewise, the palatine glands are innervated by the nasopalatine, greater palatine nerve and lesser palatine nerves. The pharyngeal nerve innervates pharyngeal glands. These are all branches of maxillary nerve.
Sympathetic root [edit]
The ganglion also consists of sympathetic efferent (postganglionic) fibers from the superior cervical ganglion. These fibers, from the superior cervical ganglion, travel through the carotid plexus, and then through the deep petrosal nerve. The deep petrosal nerve joins with the greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, which enters the ganglion. nmn,
Branches [edit]
- Orbital branches? (See "Innervation" section of ethmoid sinus page.)
- Nasopalatine nerve
- Greater palatine nerve
- Lesser palatine nerve
- Posterior superior nasal branch
- pharyngeal branch of maxillary nerve
Additional images [edit]
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Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves.
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The right sympathetic chain and its connections with the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic plexuses.
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Diagram of efferent sympathetic nervous system.
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Sympathetic connections of the sphenopalatine and superior cervical ganglia.
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Diagram of the cervical sympathetic.
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An illustration of the path of the Maxillary nerve.
External links [edit]
- synd/2132 at Who Named It?
- cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (V, VII)
- Pterygopalatine+ganglion at eMedicine Dictionary
This article incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy.
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Nerves of head and neck: the cranial nerves and nuclei (TA A14.2.01, GA 9.855)
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| olfactory (AON->I) |
- olfactory bulb
- olfactory tract
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| optic (LGN->II) |
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oculomotor
(ON, EWN->III) |
- superior branch
- parasympathetic root of ciliary ganglion/ciliary ganglion
- inferior branch
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| trochlear (TN->IV) |
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trigeminal
(PSN, TSN, MN, TMN->V) |
- trigeminal ganglion
- ophthalmic
- maxillary
- mandibular
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| abducens (AN->VI) |
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| facial (FMN, SN, SSN->VII) |
| near origin |
- nervus intermedius
- geniculate
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inside
facial canal |
- greater petrosal
- nerve to the stapedius
- chorda tympani
- lingual nerve
- submandibular ganglion
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at stylomastoid
foramen |
- posterior auricular
- suprahyoid
- parotid plexus
- temporal
- zygomatic
- buccal
- mandibular
- cervical
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vestibulocochlear
(VN, CN->VIII) |
- cochlear
- striae medullares
- lateral lemniscus
- vestibular
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glossopharyngeal
(NA, ISN, SN->IX) |
| before jugular fossa |
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| after jugular fossa |
- tympanic
- tympanic plexus
- lesser petrosal
- otic ganglion
- stylopharyngeal branch
- pharyngeal branches
- tonsillar branches
- lingual branches
- carotid sinus
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vagus
(NA, DNVN, SN->X) |
| before jugular fossa |
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| after jugular fossa |
- meningeal branch
- auricular branch
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| neck |
- pharyngeal branch
- superior laryngeal
- recurrent laryngeal (inferior)
- superior cervical cardiac
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| thorax |
- inferior cardiac
- pulmonary
- vagal trunks
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| abdomen |
- celiac
- renal
- hepatic
- anterior gastric
- posterior gastric
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| accessory (NA, SAN->XI) |
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| hypoglossal (HN->XII) |
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anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp
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noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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The cranial nerves: trigeminal nerve
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ophthalmic
(V1) |
frontal: supratrochlear · supraorbital (lateral branch, medial branch)
nasociliary: long ciliary · infratrochlear · posterior ethmoidal · anterior ethmoidal (external nasal, internal nasal) · sensory root of ciliary ganglion (ciliary ganglion)
lacrimal
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maxillary
(V2) |
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in meninges
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middle meningeal
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in pterygopalatine
fossa
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zygomatic (zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticofacial) · pterygopalatine (pterygopalatine ganglion see below for details) · posterior superior alveolar
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in infraorbital canal
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infraorbital nerve: superior alveolar (middle, anterior) · internal nasal branches
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on face
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inferior palpebral · external nasal · superior labial (infraorbital plexus)
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mandibular
(V3) |
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in meninges
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meningeal
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anterior
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to muscles of mastication (medial pterygoid/to tensor veli palatini, lateral pterygoid, masseteric, deep temporal) · buccal
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posterior
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auriculotemporal (otic ganglion) · lingual (submandibular ganglion) · inferior alveolar (mylohyoid, mental)
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anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp
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noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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Nerves – autonomic nervous system (sympathetic nervous system/ganglion/trunks and parasympathetic nervous system/ganglion) (TA A14.3, GA 9.968)
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Head/
cranial |
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Sympathetic
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- Ciliary ganglion: roots
- Short ciliary
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Parasympathetic
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- Ciliary ganglion: roots
- Short ciliary
- Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal
- nerve of pterygoid canal
- branches of distribution: greater palatine
- inferior posterior nasal branches
- lesser palatine
- nasopalatine
- medial superior posterior nasal branches
- pharyngeal
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Neck/
cervical |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia
- Stellate ganglion
- prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus
- Internal carotid
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Chest/
thorax |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia
- prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus
- Esophageal plexus
- Pulmonary plexus
- Thoracic aortic plexus
- splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary
- thoracic
- cardiac nerves: Superior
- Middle
- Inferior
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Abdomen/
Lumbar |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia
- prevertebral ganglia:
- Celiac ganglia
- Aorticorenal
- Superior mesenteric ganglion
- Inferior mesenteric ganglion
- prevertebral plexus:
- Celiac plexus
- Hepatic
- Splenic
- Pancreatic
- aorticorenal
- Abdominal aortic plexus
- Renal/Suprarenal
- Superior mesenteric
- Inferior mesenteric
- Superior hypogastric
- hypogastric nerve
- Superior rectal
- Inferior hypogastric
- Vesical
- Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis
- Uterovaginal
- Middle rectal
- splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves
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Enteric
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- Meissner's plexus
- Auerbach's plexus
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Pelvis/
sacral |
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Sympathetic
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- paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia
- Ganglion impar
- splanchnic nerves: Sacral splanchnic nerves
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Parasympathetic
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- splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves
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anat (h/r/t/c/b/l/s/a)/phys (r)/devp/prot/nttr/nttm/ntrp
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noco/auto/cong/tumr, sysi/epon, injr
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