Pterygopalatine ganglion
Last revised by Kajanan Nithiyananthan
on 25 Jan 2025
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Shen S, Nithiyananthan K, Hacking C, et al. Pterygopalatine ganglion. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 14 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-30585
rID:
30585
Article created:
20 Aug 2014,
Shi Hong Shen
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Shi Hong Shen had no recorded disclosures.
View Shi Hong Shen's current disclosures
Last revised:
25 Jan 2025,
Kajanan Nithiyananthan
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Kajanan Nithiyananthan had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Kajanan Nithiyananthan's current disclosures
Revisions:
19 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Sphenopalatine ganglion
- Meckel's ganglion
- Nasal ganglion
- Meckel ganglion
The pterygopalatine ganglion (also known as the nasal ganglion, or sphenopalatine ganglion) is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck and largest of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. It receives parasympathetic fibers from the facial nerve.
Gross anatomy
ganglion located in the pterygopalatine fossa
anterior to opening of the pterygoid canal and foramen rotundum, adjacent to the sphenopalatine foramen
receives preganglionic parasympathetic neurons from the greater superficial petrosal nerve (from superior salivatory nucleus in the pons) 5
also receives ganglionic branches from the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve 5
it supplies parasympathetic fibers to the lacrimal gland and mucosal glands in the nose, nasopharynx, sinuses and soft palate
Roots
-
parasympathetic root
nerve of pterygoid canal from the nervus intermedius component of the facial nerve
-
sympathetic root
superior cervical ganglion via the internal carotid nerve
nerve of the pterygoid canal
-
sensory root
trigeminal ganglion via the maxillary nerve
Branches
References
- 1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2008) ISBN: 9780443066849 - Google Books
- 2. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - Google Books
- 3. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. (2000) ISBN: 9780632054039 - Google Books
- 4. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - Google Books
- 5. Khonsary S, Ma Q, Villablanca P, Emerson J, Malkasian D. Clinical Functional Anatomy of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion, Cephalgia and Related Dysautonomias: A Review. Surg Neurol Int. 2013;4(Suppl 6):S422-8. doi:10.4103/2152-7806.121628 - Pubmed
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Articles:
- Autonomic ganglia and plexuses
- Choroid (eye)
- Lateral posterior inferior nasal nerve
- Greater superficial petrosal nerve
- Pterygopalatine fossa
- Eustachian tube
- Superior salivary nucleus
- Orbital nerve supply
- Parasympathetic ganglia in the head and neck
- Muscle of the uvula
- Deep petrosal nerve
- Pharyngeal nerve
- Superior cervical ganglion
- Posterior superior nasal nerves
- Zygomatic nerve
- Pineal gland
- Uvula
- Inferior orbital fissure
- Lacrimal nerve
- Soft palate
Cases:
Multiple choice questions:
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