Pterygopalatine ganglion

Video Description

Pterygopalatine ganglion
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The pterygopalatine ganglion is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck and largest of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. It receives parasympathetic fibres from the facial nerve.

Gross anatomy
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located in the pterygopalatine fossa
anterior to opening of the pterygoid canal and foramen rotundum
adjacent to the sphenopalatine foramen
it supplies parasympathetic fibres to the lacrimal gland and mucosal glands in the nose, nasopharynx, sinuses and soft palate

Roots
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1 . parasympathetic root

superior salivary nucleus via the greater petrosal nerve
nerve of pterygoid canal from the nervus intermedius component of the facial nerve.

sympathetic root

superior cervical ganglion via the internal carotid nerve
deep petrosal nerve
nerve of the pterygoid canal

2 . sensory root

trigeminal ganglion via the maxillary nerve

Branches
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nasopalatine nerve
posterior superior nasal nerves
greater palatine nerve
lesser palatine nerves
pharyngeal nerve