For medical, nursing and physiotherapy undergraduates, and postgraduates

1. MAXILLARY
NERVE

2. PTERYGO-PALATINE
GANGLION

6. INTRODUCTION
• Largest peripheral ganglion
• Lies in deepest part of Pterygo-palatine fossa.
• Topographically : Maxillary nerve
• Functionally : Greater petrosal branch of facial
nerve

7. SITUATION
• Lateral to the Spheno-palatine Foramen
• Below Maxillary nerve
• In front of Pterygoid canal.
• Medially : Pharyngeal artery
• Laterally : Pterygoid canal

8. CONNECTIONS

9. PARA-SYMPATHETIC / MOTOR ROOT
• Derived from the nerve of Pterygoid canal
• Pre-ganglionic fibres – Lacrimatory nucleus
• Nervous Intermedius
• Trunk and geniculate ganglion of Facial nerve
• Greater Petrosal nerve
• Nerve of Pterygoid canal
• Relay

10. PARA-SYMPATHETIC / MOTOR ROOT
• Pre-ganglionic fibres – supply
– Lacrimal gland
– Nasal glands
– Palatine glands
– Pharyngeal glands

11. SYMPATHETIC ROOT
• Sympathetic plexus of nerves around ICA
• Deep Petrosal nerve
• Carry post ganglionic fibres from Superior
cervical ganglion of ST
• Deep Petrosal nerve joins Greater Petrosal
nerve
• Nerve of Pterygoid canal

12. SYMPATHETIC ROOT
• Fibres of Deep Petrosal nerve pass uninterrupted
through the ganglion
• Supply Vasomotor fibres to mucous membrane
of :
– Nose
– Naso-pharynx
– Palate

13. SENSORY ROOT
• Derived from Maxillary nerve arising from
Trigeminal ganglion
• Fibres pass uninterrupted through the ganglion

15. BRANCHES
• The distributing branches of ganglion are the
ganglionic branches of Maxillary nerve
• These fibres have passed through the ganglion
without relay.

16. BRANCHES
• Ganglion gives four sets of branches :
– Orbital
– Palatine
– Nasal
– Pharyngeal
• Each branch carries a mixture of sensory,
sympathetic and para-sympathetic fibres.

18. ORBITAL BRANCHES
• Enters through Inferior orbital fissure
• Supply :
1. Periosteum of orbit
2. Orbitalis
3. Mucous membrane of Sphenoidal and
Posterior Ethmoidal air sinuses.

20. GREATER PALATINE BRANCH
• Greater / Anterior palatine branch : passes
through Greater Palatine foramen.
• Supplies :
– Mucous membrane of hard palate and adjoining
gum
• Gives Posterior Inferior Nasal branch :
– Mucous membrane of postero-inferior quadrant
of lateral wall of nasal cavity

22. LESSER PALATINE BRANCH
• Greater / Anterior palatine branch : passes
through Greater Palatine foramen.
• Supplies :
– Mucous membrane of hard palate and adjoining
gum
• Gives Posterior Inferior Nasal branch :
– Mucous membrane of postero-inferior quadrant
of lateral wall of nasal cavity

24. NASAL BRANCH
• Greater / Anterior palatine branch : passes
through Greater Palatine foramen.
• Supplies :
– Mucous membrane of hard palate and adjoining
gum
• Gives Posterior Inferior Nasal branch :
– Mucous membrane of postero-inferior quadrant
of lateral wall of nasal cavity

27. PHARYNGEAL BRANCH
• Passes backwards through Palatino-vaginal
canal
• Supplies :
– Mucous membrane of naso-pharynx behind
auditory tube

28. APPLIED ANATOMY
1. Ganglion of Hay fever – R.J Last
2. Injection of alcohol – intractable cases of
allergic rhinitis
3. Brain freeze / Ice cream headache – cranial
pain / headache