The otic ganglia are small, reddish-grey, oval shaped ganglia located below the foramen ovale in the infratemporal fossa. They have parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory/motor connections. Parasympathetic fibers synapse in the otic ganglia and their post-ganglionic fibers supply the parotid gland via auriculotemporal nerve branches. Sympathetic fibers do not relay in the ganglia. Sensory fibers from the auriculotemporal nerve are sensory to the parotid gland, and motor fibers pass through to supply muscles without relaying. Damage to the auriculotemporal nerve can cause Frey's syndrome, where sal

3. OTIC GANGLIA
Rana Usama Amjad
MBBS-II
Rai Medical College Sargodha

4. OTIC GANGLIA
.Parasympathetic Ganglia
.Topographically:
Mandibular Nerve
.Functionally:
Glossopharyngeal Nerve

5. STRUCTURE:
.2-3mm
.Oval shaped
.Reddish-grey colour

6. LOCATION & RELATIONS:
=>Below FORAMEN OVALE in infratemporal fossa
=>Laterally:
Trunk of MANDIBULAR NERVE
=>Medially:
Cartilaginous part of AUDITORY TUBE
=>Posteriorly:
Middle MENINGEAL Artery

8. CONNECTIONS:
3 types of connections…
.Parasympathetic
.Sympathetic
.Sensory & Motor

9. PARASYMPATHETIC:
=>Pre-ganglionic parasympathetic fiber originate from INFERIOR
SALIVATORY NUCLEUS
=>Fibers leave Glossophrangyeal nerve by tympanic branch & leave the
otic ganglia by Tympanic plexus & Lesser petrosal nerve
=>Here fiber synapse & post-ganglionic fibers pass by communicating
branches of Auriculotemporal nerve and supply Parotid gland. e
=>Produce Vasodilator & Secretomotor effect.

11. SYMPATHETIC:
=>Post-ganglionic arising in Superior Cervical Ganglia.
=>Sympathetic root derived from plexus around Middle Meningeal
Artery.
=>Fibers cannot relay in otic ganglia and reach Parotid gland via
Auriculotemporal nerve.
=>Fibers are Vasomotor in function.

13. SENSORY & MOTOR:
=>Sensory root comes from Auriculotemporal nerve and is sensory
to Parotid Gland.
=>Motor fibers pass through otic ganglia without relay and supply
following Muscles…
i)Medial pterygoid
ii)Tensor Platini
iii)Tensor Tympani
=>Due to connection with Chorda Tympani the pathway provide an
alternate pathway for Taste Sensation.

15. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
Frey's Syndrome:
=>Due to damage of Auriculotemporal nerve
=>Salivation induce perspiration(sweating)
=>accompanied with ERYTHEMA(reddening of skin)