Pterygopalatine ganglion

Changed by Calum Worsley, 27 Dec 2021

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The pterygopalatine ganglion is one of four parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck and largest of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. It receives parasympathetic fibres from the facial nerve. The pre-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons arise from the superior salivatory nucleus in the pons and travel as the nervous intermedius of the facial nerve and continues as the greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) and synapse with the post ganglionic neurons within the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG)~~⁵~~. It also receives ganglionic (pterygoid branches) branches from the maxillary nerve (V2 of the trigeminal nerve)~~⁵.~~

Gross anatomy

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 nerve⁵
it supplies parasympathetic fibres to the lacrimal gland and mucosal glands in the nose, nasopharynx, sinuses and soft palate

Roots

parasympathetic root
- superior salivary nucleus via the greater petrosal nerve
- nerve of pterygoid canal from the nervus intermedius component of the facial nerve.
sympathetic root
- superior cervical ganglion via the internal carotid nerve
- deep petrosal nerve
- nerve of the pterygoid canal
sensory root
- trigeminal ganglion via the maxillary nerve

Branches

-The pterygopalatine ganglion is one of four <a href="/articles/parasympathetic-ganglia-in-the-head-and-neck">parasympathetic ganglia</a> of the head and neck and largest of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. It receives parasympathetic fibres from the <a href="/articles/facial-nerve">facial nerve</a>. The pre-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons arise from the superior salivatory nucleus in the pons and travel as the nervous intermedius of the facial nerve and continues as the greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN) and synapse with the post ganglionic neurons within the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG)5. It also receives ganglionic (pterygoid branches) branches from the maxillary nerve (V2 of the trigeminal nerve)5. <h4>Gross anatomy</h4><ul>
+The pterygopalatine ganglion is one of four <a href="/articles/parasympathetic-ganglia-in-the-head-and-neck">parasympathetic ganglia</a> of the head and neck and largest of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. It receives parasympathetic fibres from the <a href="/articles/facial-nerve">facial nerve</a>.<h4>Gross anatomy</h4><ul>
~~-<li>anterior to opening of the <a href="/articles/pterygoid-canal">pterygoid canal</a> and <a href="/articles/foramen-rotundum">foramen rotundum</a>~~
+<li>anterior to opening of the <a href="/articles/pterygoid-canal">pterygoid canal</a> and <a href="/articles/foramen-rotundum">foramen rotundum,</a> adjacent to the <a href="/articles/sphenopalatine-foramen">sphenopalatine foramen</a>
~~-<li>adjacent to the <a href="/articles/sphenopalatine-foramen">sphenopalatine foramen</a>~~
+<li>receives preganglionic parasympathetic neurons from the <a title="Greater superficial petrosal nerve" href="/articles/greater-superficial-petrosal-nerve">greater superficial petrosal nerve</a> (from <a title="Superior salivatory nucleus" href="/articles/superior-salivary-nucleus">superior salivatory nucleus</a> in the <a title="Pons" href="/articles/pons">pons</a>) 5
+</li>
+<li>also receives ganglionic branches from the maxillary branch of the <a title="Trigeminal nerve" href="/articles/trigeminal-nerve">trigeminal nerve</a> 5

References changed:

1. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2008) ISBN: 9780443066849 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780443066849">Google Books</a>
2. Keith L. Moore, Arthur F. Dalley, A. M. R. Agur. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. (2013) ISBN: 9781451119459 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9781451119459">Google Books</a>
3. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. (2000) ISBN: 9780632054039 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780632054039">Google Books</a>
4. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN044304662X">Google Books</a>
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. <a href="https://doi.org/10.4103/2152-7806.121628">doi:10.4103/2152-7806.121628</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24349865">Pubmed</a>
1. Gray's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0443066841. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0443066841">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0443066841">Find it at Amazon</a>
2. Moore KL, Agur AMR, Dalley AF. Clinically oriented anatomy. LWW. ISBN:1451119453. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1451119453">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1451119453">Find it at Amazon</a>
3. Robert H. Whitaker, Neil R. Borley. Instant Anatomy. <a href="https://books.google.co.uk/books?vid=ISBN9780632054039">ISBN: 9780632054039</a>
4. Last's anatomy, regional and applied. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:044304662X. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN044304662X">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/044304662X">Find it at Amazon</a>
5. Khonsary SA, 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 Nov 20;4(Suppl 6):S422-8. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.121628. PMID: 24349865; PMCID: PMC3858801.