The deep petrosal nerve is a post-ganglionic branch of the (
sympathetic)
internal carotid (nervous) plexus (which is in turn derived from the
superior cervical ganglion
The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) is the upper-most and largest of the cervical sympathetic ganglia of the sympathetic trunk. It probably formed by the union of four sympathetic ganglia of the cervical spinal nerves C1–C4. It is the only ...
, a part of the
cervical sympathetic trunk) that enters the
cranial cavity
The cranial cavity, also known as intracranial space, is the space within the skull that accommodates the brain. The skull is also known as the cranium. The cranial cavity is formed by eight cranial bones known as the neurocranium that in human ...
through the
carotid canal
The carotid canal is a passage in the petrous part of the temporal bone of the skull through which the internal carotid artery and its internal carotid (nervous) plexus pass from the neck into (the middle cranial fossa of) the cranial cavity.
...
, then passes perpendicular to the carotid canal in
the cartilaginous substance which fills the
foramen lacerum
The foramen lacerum () is a triangular hole in the base of the skull. It is located between the sphenoid bone, the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone, and the basilar part of the occipital bone.
Structure
The foramen lacerum () is a ...
to unite with the (parasympathetic)
greater petrosal nerve
The greater petrosal nerve (or greater superficial petrosal nerve) is a nerve of the head mainly containing pre-ganglionic parasympathetic fibres which ultimately synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion.
It branches from the facial nerve (CN VI ...
to form the
nerve of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve).
Anatomy
intermediate grey column (of spinal cord at around the level of T1) →
white rami communicantes (of cervical part of
sympathetic chain
The sympathetic trunk (sympathetic chain, gangliated cord) is a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx. It is a major component of the sympathetic nervous system.
Structure
The sympathetic trunk lies just ...
) →
superior cervical ganglion
The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) is the upper-most and largest of the cervical sympathetic ganglia of the sympathetic trunk. It probably formed by the union of four sympathetic ganglia of the cervical spinal nerves C1–C4. It is the only ...
(synapse) →
gray rami communicantes →
internal carotid plexus
The internal carotid plexus is a nerve plexus situated upon the lateral side of the internal carotid artery. It is composed of post-ganglionic sympathetic fibres which have synapsed at (i.e. have their nerve cell bodies at) the superior cervical g ...
→ deep petrosal nerve →
nerve of pterygoid canal
The nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve) is formed by the union of the (parasympathetic) greater petrosal nerve and (sympathetic) deep petrosal nerve within the cartilaginous substance filling the foramen lacerum. From the foramen lacerum ...
→
pterygopalatine ganglion
The pterygopalatine ganglion (aka Meckel's ganglion, nasal ganglion, or sphenopalatine ganglion) is a parasympathetic ganglion in the pterygopalatine fossa. It is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck, (the others being the s ...
(fibres pass through without synapsing) →
zygomatic nerve
The zygomatic nerve is a branch of the maxillary nerve (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)). It arises in the pterygopalatine fossa and enters the orbit through the inferior orbital fissure before dividing into its two terminal branc ...
→
zygomaticotemporal nerve
The zygomaticotemporal nerve (zygomaticotemporal branch, temporal branch) is a cutaneous ( sensory) nerve of the head. It is a branch of the zygomatic nerve (itself a branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2)). It arises in the orbit and exits the o ...
→
lacrimal nerve
The lacrimal nerve is the smallest of the three main branches of the ophthalmic nerve (CN V1) (itself a branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)).
It enters the orbit outside the common tendinous ring and passes forward along the side wall of the ...
Origin
The cell bodies of pre-ganglionic sympathetic axons that subsequently give synapse with neurons of the deep petrosal nerve reside in the
intermediate grey column of the spinal cord at around the spinal level of T1. The pre-ganglionic axons ascend in the sympathetic trunk to synapse at the superior cervical ganglion where the cell bodies of the fibres of the deep petrosal nerve are situated. The post-ganglionic fibres do not synapse again and ultimately innervate their target tissues directly.
Function
The deep petrosal nerve carries post-ganglionic
sympathetic axons which are ultimately distributed to the
blood vessels
Blood vessels are the tubular structures of a circulatory system that transport blood throughout many animals’ bodies. Blood vessels transport blood cells, nutrients, and oxygen to most of the tissues of a body. They also take waste an ...
(to mediate vasoconstriction), and exocrine glands of the lacrimal gland, nasal cavity, and oral cavity (to mediate secretomotor function).
Additional images
File:Gray841.png, Sympathetic connections of the pterygopalatine and superior cervical ganglia.
File:Autonomic Innervation to the Lacrimal Gland (and other glands of the deep face).svg, Depicts nerve branches that are involved in the autonomic innervation of the lacrimal gland. The terminal parts of the pathway are variable between individuals and differ for the other glands of the deep face.
References
External links
*
Table at doctor_uae
Nerves
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