Ciliary ganglion
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At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yoshi Yu had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Yoshi Yu's current disclosuresThe ciliary ganglion is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck. It receives preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus via the oculomotor nerve. It supplies the eye via short ciliary nerves not only with parasympathetic fibers, but also with sensory and sympathetic fibers that pass through the ganglion.
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
Although the ciliary ganglion has parasympathetic, sensory and sympathetic roots, only the parasympathetic ones synapse within the ganglion.
-
parasympathetic root
from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus of the oculomotor nerve (III) via the inferior division
fibers synapse in the ganglion
-
sympathetic root
from the ICA (from the superior cervical ganglion) via the nasociliary nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve
fibers pass through the ganglion without synapsing
-
sensory root
via the small communicating branch of the ciliary ganglion (from the nasociliary nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerve)
fibers pass through the ganglion without synapsing
Branches
-
~12 or more branches, termed
each contains elements from all 3 roots (above), and pierce the back of the sclera around the attachment of the optic nerve to supply the globe
the vast majority of fibers from ganglionic cells supply the ciliary body (accommodation); only ~3% supply sphincter pupillae
Note: while both long ciliary nerves (branches of the nasociliary nerve) and short ciliary nerves contain sensory/sympathetic supply to the cornea, iris, and ciliary body, only the short ciliary nerves are involved in pupillary constriction and 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
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. ISBN: 9780632054039
Incoming Links
- Autonomic ganglia and plexuses
- Choroid (eye)
- Small communicating branch
- Sphincter pupillae muscle
- Adie syndrome
- Trigeminal nerve
- Intraconal orbital compartment
- Orbital nerve supply
- Edinger-Westphal nucleus
- Parasympathetic ganglia in the head and neck
- Oculomotor nerve
- Ciliary muscle
- Adie pupil
- Orbit
- Short ciliary nerves
- Long ciliary nerves
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Nasociliary nerve
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