Trigeminal ganglion
The trigeminal ganglion, also known as the Gasser, Gasserian or semilunar ganglion, is the large crescent-shaped sensory ganglion of the trigeminal nerve located in the trigeminal cave (Meckel cave) surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid.
The ganglion contains the cell bodies of the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve. From the ganglion, the 3 major divisions of the trigeminal nerve emerge anteriorly and inferiorly, with the first two (ophthalmic and maxillary divisions) passing anteriorly to enter the cavernous sinus, and the third (mandibular division) descending into the foramen ovale.
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Relations
- medial: motor root of the trigeminal nerve and sphenoid bone
- lateral: posterior part of the cavernous sinus, petrous apex and petrous segment of the internal carotid artery
- anterior: cavernous sinus and cavernous segment of the ICA
- posterior: prepontine cistern
- inferior: greater petrosal nerve and middle cranial fossa
Blood supply
- small ganglionic branches of the cavernous portion of the ICA
- accessory meningeal artery (from the maxillary artery, via the foramen ovale)
Innervation
The ganglionic epineurium is innervated by the nervus spinosus from the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve which re-enters the skull via the foramen spinosum.
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Anatomy: Head and neck
- skeleton of the head and neck
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cranial vault
- scalp (mnemonic)
- fontanelle
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sutures
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- frontomaxillary suture
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- frontonasal suture
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- occipitotemporal suture (occipitomastoid suture)
- sphenofrontal suture
- sphenozygomatic suture
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- lacrimomaxillary suture
- nasomaxillary suture
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facial bones
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cranial vault
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muscles of facial expression
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- levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- levator labii superioris muscle
- zygomaticus major muscle
- zygomaticus minor muscle
- malaris muscle
- levator anguli oris muscle
- risorius muscle
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- depressor labii inferioris muscle
- depressor anguli oris muscle
- mentalis muscle
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- orbicularis oris muscle
- incisivus superior muscle
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- muscle of mastication:
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- muscles of the middle ear
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deep spaces of the neck
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arterial supply
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common carotid artery
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common carotid artery
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arterial supply
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cranial nerves
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- optic nerve (CN II)
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trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
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- ophthalmic division
- maxillary division
- mandibular division
- abducens nerve (CN VI)
- facial nerve (CN VII)
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vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
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- glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
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vagus nerve (CN X)
- superior laryngeal nerve
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cervical plexus
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ansa cervicalis
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cranial nerves
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- embryological development of the head and neck
Anatomy: Brain
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brain
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cerebrum
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cerebral hemisphere (telencephalon)
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grey matter
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cranial nerve nuclei
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cranial nerves (mnemonic)
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vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
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circle of Willis
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normal variants
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cerebral venous system
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dural venous sinuses
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- internal carotid artery venous plexus of Rektorzik
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cerebral veins
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superficial veins of the brain
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superficial veins of the brain
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dural venous sinuses
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