Pterygopalatine Ganglion

 Features 

Pterygopalatine is the largest parasympathetic peripheral ganglion. 

It serves as a relay station for secretomotor fibres to the lacrimal gland and to the mucous glands of the nose, paranasal sinuses, palate  and pharynx. 

Topographically, it is related to the maxillary nerve,
but functionally it is connected to facial nerve through its greater petrosal branch. 

The flattened ganglion lies in the pterygopalatine fossa just below the maxillary nerve, in front of the pterygoid canal and lateral to the sphenopalatine foramen 

CONNECTIONS 

1.The parasympathetic root of the ganglion is formed by the nerve of the pterygoid canal. 

It carries preganglionic fibres that arise from neurons present near the superior salivatory andl acrimatory nuclei, 

pass through the nervus intermedius, the facial nerve, the geniculate ganglion, the greater petrosal nerve and the nerve of the pterygoid canal to reach the ganglion. 

The fibres relay in the ganglion.
Postganglionic fibres arise in the ganglion to supply secretomotor nerves to the lacrimal gland and to the mucous glands of the nose, the paranasal sinuses, the palate and the nasopharynx. 

2. The sympathetic root is also derived from the nerve of the pterygoid canal. 

It contains postganglionic fibres arising in the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion which pass through the internal carotid plexus, the deep petrosal nerve and the nerve of the pterygoid canal to reach the ganglion. 

The fibres pass through the ganglion without relay, and supply vasomotor nerves to the mucous membrane of the 

nose, the paranasal sinuses, the palate and the nasopharynx 

3. The sensory roots come from the maxillary nerve. 

Its fibres pass through the ganglion without relay. 

They emerge in the branches. 

BRANCHES 

The branches of the ganglion are actually branches of the maxillary nerve. 

They also carry parasympathetic and sympathetic fibres which pass through the ganglion.
The branches are: 

1. Orbital branches pass through the inferior orbital fissure, and
• supply the periosteum of the orbit, and the orbitalis muscle which is involuntary 

2. Palatine branches 

• the greater or anterior palatine nerve descends through the greater palatine canal, and supplies the hard palate and the labial aspect of the upper gums.
  
• The lesser or middle and posterior palatine nerves supply the soft palate and the tonsil
  
  

3. Nasal branches enter the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine foramen.

• The lateral posterior superior nasal branches, about six in number
  supply the posterior parts of the superior and middle conchae.
  
• The medial posterior superior nasal branches, two or three in number supply the posterior part of the roof of thenose and of the nasal septum
  
• The largest of these nerves is known as the nasopalatine nerve which descends up to the anterior part of the hard palate through the incisive foramen.
  

4. The pharyngeal branch passes through the palatinovaginal canal and supplies the part of the nasopharynx behind the auditory tube 

5. Lacrimal branch: The postganglionic fibres pass back into the maxillary nerve to leave it through its zygomatic nerve and its zygomaticotemporal branch, a communicating branch to lacrimal nerve to supply the secretomotor fibres to the lacrimal gland 

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Pterygopalatine Ganglion | Situation | Relations | Connections | Branches | Clinical Anatomy