What does the petrosal nerve innervate?
The greater petrosal nerve (or greater superficial petrosal nerve) is a nerve in the skull that branches from the facial nerve; it forms part of a chain of nerves that innervate the lacrimal gland. The preganglionic parasympathetic axons of this nerve synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion.
What does the lesser petrosal nerve innervate?
The secretomotor axons of the glossopharyngeal nerve originate in preganglionic neurons located in the salivatory nucleus in the upper medulla and lower pons. These axons follow the tympanic and lesser petrosal nerves and innervate the otic ganglion, located just medial to the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve.
What is the petrosal nerve a branch of?
facial cranial nerve
The greater petrosal nerve or superficial petrosal nerve is a branch of the nervus intermedius (nerve of Wrisberg) that carries parasympathetic, taste, and sensory fibers of the facial cranial nerve (CN VII).
Where does the greater petrosal nerve synapse?
pterygopalatine ganglion
The sympathetic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve cross the pterygopalatine fossa without synapsing and provide all branches of the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve (V2) with sympathetic innervation. The parasympathetic fibers synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion (sphenopalatine ganglion).
Is the deep petrosal nerve sympathetic?
The deep petrosal nerve transmits post-ganglionic sympathetic fibers from the internal carotid plexus to the Vidian nerve on its way to the pterygopalatine ganglion.
Is deep petrosal nerve parasympathetic?
The vidian nerve is formed by the confluence of the greater superficial petrosal and deep petrosal nerves and travels in the pterygoid canal carrying the parasympathetic fibers, which synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion, and the postganglionic fibers are distributed with the branches of the maxillary nerve.
Does greater petrosal nerve go through foramen lacerum?
In the middle cranial fossa, the greater petrosal nerve passes medially to enter the foramen lacerum and fuses there with the deep petrosal nerve, forming the Vidian nerve or pterygoid nerve, which passes from the pterygoid canal to the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF).
What is the meaning of petrosal?
Definition of petrosal : of, relating to, or situated in the region of the petrous portion of the temporal bone or capsule of the inner ear.
Does the greater petrosal nerve go through the foramen lacerum?
What does the carotid plexus innervate?
Previous research suggest that the external carotid plexus innervates sweat glands on the lateral side of the forehead, whereas the internal carotid plexus innervates the medial forehead’s sweat glands [15]. The external carotid plexus passes filaments to the carotid body and thyroid glands [7].
What passes through the foramen lacerum?
The artery of pterygoid canal, the nerve of pterygoid canal and some venous drainage pass through the foramen lacerum. In the foramen lacerum the greater petrosal nerve joins with the deep petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal.
Where is the carotid canal?
temporal bone
The carotid canal is the passage way in the temporal bone through which the internal carotid artery enters the middle cranial fossa from the neck. The canal starts on the inferior surface of the temporal bone at the external opening of the carotid canal (also referred to as the carotid foramen).
What does the pharyngeal plexus innervate?
The pharyngeal plexus provides sensory innervation of the oropharynx and laryngopharynx from CN IX and CN X. (The nasopharynx above the pharyngotympanic tube and the torus tubarius is innervated by CN V2).
What nerve passes through foramen ovale?
the mandibular nerve
The FO is present in the posterior part of the greater wing of the sphenoid. The important structures which pass through it are the mandibular nerve, the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser superficial petrosal nerve and the emmissary vein [1].
What does the greater petrosal nerve innervate?
The greater petrosal nerve branches off of the facial nerve in the skull. Along with a chain of other nerves, it innervates (provides nerve function to) the lacrimal gland, which produces tears.
Where does the greater petrosal nerve enter the pterygoid canal?
It enters the pterygoid canal, where it joins the deep petrosal nerve (a sympathetic nerve) to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, which passes through the pterygoid canal to reach the pterygopalatine ganglion . The greater petrosal nerve carries parasympathetic preganglionic fibers from the facial nerve.
Where does the greater petrosal nerve exit the uterus?
Greater petrosal nerve. Formerly known as the greater superficial petrosal nerve, the greater petrosal nerve exits the temporal bone by the Fallopian hiatus and runs through an osseous conduit, which brings it to the foramen lacerum.
Where does the lesser petrosal nerve connect to the chorda tympani?
The lesser petrosal nerve also forms a connection between the otic ganglion (where it terminates), the facial nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve. This nerve is slender and makes its way in the middle ear to meet the stapedius muscle. The chorda tympani nerve arises from the facial nerve a few millimeters above the stylomastoid foramen.