Ciliary ganglion

Dr Tom Foster and Assoc Prof Craig Hacking ◉ ◈ et al.

The ciliary ganglion is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck. It receives parasympathetic fibers from the oculomotor nerve.

Gross anatomy

smallest of the ganglia (2 mm in size)
located posterolaterally in the intraconal space of the orbit (towards the orbital apex) between the optic nerve and the lateral rectus muscle
just lateral to the ophthalmic artery as it crosses the optic nerve from lateral to medial

Roots

parasympathetic root (fibers synapse in the ganglion)
- from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the oculomotor nerve (III)
sympathetic root (fibers pass through the ganglion without synapsing)
- from the ICA (from the superior cervical ganglion) via the nasociliary nerve (V1)
sensory root (fibers pass through the ganglion without synapsing)
- via the small communicating branch of the ciliary ganglion (from nasociliary - V1)

Branches

~12 or more branches, termed short ciliary nerves
each contains elements from all 3 roots (above), and pierce back of sclera around attachment of optic nerve to supply the globe
the vast marjority of fibers from ganglionic cells supply ciliary body (accommodation); only ~3% supply sphincter pupillae
note; while both long and short ciliary nerves contain sensory/sympathetic supply to the cornea, iris, & ciliary body; only short ciliary are involved in pupillary constriction & accommodation

Related pathology

pathology of the ciliary ganglion can produce a tonic pupil, where the pupil does not react to light and slowly accommodates
Adie syndrome: when a non-reactive, slowly accomodating pupil is associated with absent deep tendon reflexes and diaphoresis

References

Anatomy: Head and neck

Anatomy: Head and neck

skeleton of the head and neck
- cranial vault
  - scalp (mnemonic)
    - galea aponeurotica
  - fontanelle
  - sutures
    - calvarial
    - facial
      - frontozygomatic suture
      - frontomaxillary suture
      - frontolacrimal suture
      - frontonasal suture
      - temporozygomatic suture
      - zygomaticomaxillary suture
      - parietotemporal suture (parietomastoid suture)
      - occipitotemporal suture (occipitomastoid suture)
      - sphenofrontal suture
      - sphenozygomatic suture
      - spheno-occipital suture (not a true suture)
      - lacrimomaxillary suture
      - nasomaxillary suture
      - internasal suture
    - basal/internal
  - skull landmarks
    - nasion
    - glabella
    - bregma
    - vertex
    - lambda
    - inion
    - pterion
    - asterion
    - basion
    - opisthion
    - obelion
  - frontal bone
    - supratrochlear foramen
    - supraorbital foramen
  - temporal bone
  - parietal bone
    - parietal foramen
  - occipital bone
- skull base (foramina)
- facial bones
  - midline single bones
  - paired bilateral bones
- cervical spine
- hyoid bone
- laryngeal cartilages
muscles of the head and neck
- muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
  - extrinsic muscles of the tongue
  - intrinsic muscles of the tongue
- muscles of mastication
- muscles of facial expression
  - occipitalis muscle
  - circumorbital and palpebral muscles
  - nasal muscles
  - buccolabial muscles
    - elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
      - levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
      - levator labii superioris muscle
      - zygomaticus major muscle
      - zygomaticus minor muscle
      - malaris muscle
      - levator anguli oris muscle
      - risorius muscle
    - depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
      - depressor labii inferioris muscle
      - depressor anguli oris muscle
      - mentalis muscle
    - compound sphincter
      - orbicularis oris muscle
      - incisivus superior muscle
      - incisivus inferior muscle
    - muscle of mastication:
      - buccinator muscle
- muscles of the middle ear
  - stapedius muscle
  - tensor tympani muscle
- orbital muscles
  - extraocular muscles
  - levator palpebrae superioris muscle
    - superior tarsal muscle
- muscles of the soft palate
- pharyngeal muscles
- suprahyoid muscles
- infrahyoid muscles
- intrinsic muscles of the larynx
- muscles of the neck
- accessory muscles of the neck
  - levator glandulae thyroideae muscle
deep cervical fascia
deep spaces of the neck
surgical triangles of the neck
- anterior triangle
- posterior triangle
  - occipital triangle
    - suboccipital triangle
  - supraclavicular triangle
orbit
ear
paranasal sinuses
nose
oral cavity
pharynx
larynx
viscera of the neck
blood supply of the head and neck
- arterial supply
  - common carotid artery
- venous drainage
innervation of the head and neck
- cranial nerves
  - olfactory nerve (CN I)
  - optic nerve (CN II)
  - oculomotor nerve (CN III)
  - trochlear nerve (CN IV)
  - trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
    - nuclei
      - sensory
        
        mesencephalic nucleus
        
        main sensory nucleus
        
        spinal nucleus
      - motor nucleus
    - trigeminal ganglion
    - ophthalmic division
      - tentorial nerve
      - frontal nerve
        
        supra-orbital nerve
        
        supratrochlear nerve
      - lacrimal nerve
      - nasociliary nerve
        
        small communicating branch to the ciliary ganglion
        
        short ciliary nerves
        
        long ciliary nerves
        
        infratrochlear nerve
        
        posterior ethmoidal nerve
        
        anterior ethmoidal nerve
    - maxillary division
    - mandibular division
  - abducens nerve (CN VI)
  - facial nerve (CN VII)
    - chorda tympani
    - nerve to stapedius
  - vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
    - vestibular ganglion (Scarpa's ganglion)
  - glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
    - Jacobson nerve
  - vagus nerve (CN X)
    - superior laryngeal nerve
      - external laryngeal nerve
      - internal laryngeal nerve
    - recurrent laryngeal nerve (inferior laryngeal nerve)
  - (spinal) accessory nerve (CN XI)
  - hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck
- greater occipital nerve
- cervical plexus
  - muscular branches
    - longus capitis
    - longus colli
    - scalenes
    - geniohyoid
    - thyrohyoid
    - ansa cervicalis
      - omohyoid (superior and inferior bellies separately)
      - sternothyroid
      - sternohyoid
    - phrenic nerve
      - accessory phrenic nerve
    - contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
  - cutaneous branches
- brachial plexus
- pharyngeal plexus
lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
embryological development of the head and neck
- branchial apparatus

Article information

rID: 52207

System: Head & Neck

Section: Anatomy

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Support Radiopaedia and see fewer ads

Updating… Please wait.

Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

Thank you for updating your details.