The document provides an overview of the parasympathetic nervous system. It lists the three cranial nerves (III, VII, IX) that carry preganglionic parasympathetic fibers and notes that nerve V does not carry any. It also notes that parasympathetic ganglia contain sympathetic components. The document then provides a table that outlines the specific nuclei, nerves, ganglia, ganglion locations, and postganglionic fibers involved in parasympathetic innervation for each of the three cranial nerves.

1. Overview Parasympathetics
o Travel with cranial nerves III, VII and IX, then meet V in ganglion and postganglionic fibres are carried by a branch of V!!!!
o V does not have any pre-ganglionic parasympathetic fibres!!!
o Parasympathetic ganglia also have sympathetic components
Preganglionic Parasympathetic Location of Postganglionic
Nerve Nucleus Function
nerve Ganglion Ganglion nerve(s)
Short ciliary
Inferior division Innervation of
Edinger branch of
III. Oculomotor of occulomotor Ciliary ganglion Inferior to eye Sphincter
Westphal nasociliary nerve,
nerve pupillae muscle
Va
Nervus In facial canal in greater petrosal, Sensory
Geniculate ganglion
intermedius, VII petrous temp. bone continuation: VII ganglion?
Branches of Vb:
- zygomatic
“hayfever
- nasopalatine,
Pterigopalatine glands”:
post. superior
fossa between - lacrimal
Greater petrosal Pterigopalatine nasal
pterygoid plates of - nasal
Superior nerve ganglion - greater palatine,
sphenoid and - palatine
salivary, lat. post.inf. nasal
VII. Facial palatine bone - pharyngeal
Nucleus - lesser palatine
solitarius - pharyngeal
lacrimal Va lacrimal gland
Infratemporal 1. taste in ant.
2
fossa/ /3 of tongue
lingual branch of
Submandibular submandibular 2. sublingual
Chorda tympani Vc (off posterior
ganglion fossa on medial gland
division)
side of body of 3. submandi-
mandible bular gland
Inferior to
Auriculotemporal
Inferior Lesser petrosal foramen ovale in
IX. Glossopharyngeal Otic ganglion branch of Vc (off parotid gland
salivary nerve infratemporal
posterior division)
fossa
C. Riedinger 2011