The document discusses four parasympathetic ganglia of the head: 1. The ciliary ganglion located in the orbit behind the eye supplies the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscles. 2. The sphenopalatine ganglion in the pterygopalatine fossa supplies glands of the nasal cavity, palate and lacrimal gland. 3. The otic ganglion below the foramen ovale supplies the parotid gland. 4. The submandibular ganglion suspended from the lingual nerve supplies the submandibular and sublingual glands.

1. PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA
OF THE HEAD
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen Morsy
Anatomy Dept. , Faculty of Medicine
Al-Azhar University & KAU

2. PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA OF THE HEAD
They include :
1. CILIARY GANGLION
2. SUBMANDIBULAR
GANGLION
3. OTIC GANGLION
4. SPHENOPALATINE
(PTERYGOPALATINE)
GANGLION
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

3. SphenopalatineSubmandibularOticGanglion
in the pterygopalatine
fossa, suspended from
maxillary nerve
superficial to
hyoglossus muscle,
suspended from
lingual nerve
just below foramen
ovale, deep to trunk of
mandibular nerve
Site
Maxillary N.Lingual N.Mandibular N.Sensory root
Plexus around internal
carotid artery
( deep petrosal N)
Plexus around facial
artery
Plexus around middle
meningeal artery
(External petrosal N.)
Sympathetic
root
Superior salivary nucleus
greater petrosal branch
of 7th N.→ joins deep
petrosal → both nerves
form nerve of pterygoid
canal →ganglion
Superior salivary
nucleus chorda
tympani of facial
nerve → joins lingual
nerve → ganglion
Inferior salivary
nucleus lesser
petrosal branch of
tympanic of 9th N. →
passes in foramen
ovale to the ganglion
Parasympathetic
root
PREGANGLIONIC
FIBERS
1.Zygomaticotemporal
nerve → lacrimal nerve →
lacrimal gland
2.Along greater & lesser
palatine branches →
palatine glands
3.Along nasal branches →
nasal glands
1.Pass directly to
submandibular
gland
2.Pass along lingual
nerve after
rejoining →
sublingual
gland
Passes along
auriculotemporal
nerve → secretomotor
fibers to parotid gland
Distribution
POST-
GANGLIONC
FIBERS
Prof. Laila Aboul Mahasen
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

4. OTIC GANGLION
Site : lies in the infratemporal fossa just
below the foramen ovale
Roots:
1. Parasympathetic root : lesser
petrosal nerve
2. Sympathetic root : from plexus
around the middle meningeal artery
3. Motor root : from the nerve to
medial pterygoid muscle
Branches:
1. Postganglionic parasympathetic fibers
carried by the auriculotemporal nerve to the
parotid gland
2. Sympathetic fibers to the parotid vessels
3. Motor fibres: to tensor palati and tensor
tympani muscles .
Otic ganglion
Lesser petrosal N.
Tensor tympani & n.
Auriculo-
temporal N.
ECA
Inferior alveolar N.
Mylohyoid N.Medial pterygoid M.
Tensor palati M.
& its Nerve
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

5. • The preganglionic fibres arise from the inferior salivary nucleus in the brain stem
• They run with CN IX, then through its tympanic branch to join the tympanic plexus
• The fibres are then carried by the lesser petrosal nerve which leaves through the
foramen ovale and terminates in the otic ganglion
Foramen ovale
Tympanic plexus
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Inferior salivary nucleus
Otic ganglion
Auriculotemporal nerve
Lesser petrosal nerve
Tympanic branch
of glossopharyngeal
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen
Preganglionic fibres of OTIC GANGLION

6. Submandibular Ganglion
Sensory : lingual N..
Sympathetic : plexus around facial A.
Parasympathetic: preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the
chorda tympani ( from facial N.) relay in submandibular ganglion
& postganglionic fibres carried by the lingual nerve
Superior salivary
nucleus
Facial nerve
Chorda
tympani
nerve
Facial artery Submandibular gland
Submandibular
ganglion
Lingual nerve
(pregang.)
Sublingual gland
Lingual nerve
(postgang.)
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

7. Parasympathetic part of submandibular ganglion
NUCLEUS: superior salivary nucleus (pons)
PREGANGLIONIC FIBERS:
The fibres pass along chorda tympani of facial nerve → joins lingual nerve → posterior root
→ ganglion
*The lingual nerve is connected to the ganglion by posterior & anterior roots
POSTGANGLIONC FIBERS:
1. Pass directly to submandibular gland
2. Rejoin with lingual nerve and pass along anterior root → lingual nerve → sublingual gland
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

8. Submandibular Ganglion
A small parasympathetic ganglion suspended from the lingual nerve on the upper
part of lateral surface of hyoglossus muscle
Roots:
Sensory: lingual N. .
Sympathetic: plexus around facial &
lingual arteries
*Sensory& sympathetic fibres
transverse the ganglion without relay .
Parasympathetic: preganglionic fibers
from chorda tympani ( from facial N.)
relay in the ganglion & postganglionic
fibres are carried by lingual nerve
Branches:
1.Parasympathetic secretomotor to
submandibular and sublingualboth
glands
2.Sensory: carry sensations from the
submandibular and sublingual glands
3.Sympathetic: to the vessels of the
submandibular and sublingual glands
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

9. Superior salivary
nucleus
Facial nerve
Chorda
tympani
nerve
Facial artery
Submandibular gland
Submandibular
ganglion
Lingual nerve
(pregang.)
Sublingual gland
Lingual nerve
(postgang.)
Submandibular Ganglion
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

10. SPHENOPALATINE (PTERYGOPALATINE) GANGLION
Superior salivary
nucleus
Facial nerve
Greater
petrosal n
Maxillary n.
Deep
petrosal N.
Nerve of
pterygoid canal
Sphenopalatine
ganglion
ICA
Sympathetic
chain
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

11. BRANCHES oF PTERYGOPALATINE GANGLION
Postganglionic Fibres :
1. Lacrimal gland : along
ganglionic branches →
maxillary nerve → zygomatic
branch of maxillary nerve →
Zygomaticotemporal nerve →
lacrimal nerve → lacrimal G.
2. Palatine glands : along greater
& lesser palatine branches →
palatine glands
3. Nasal glands : along nasal
branches
4. Nasopharynx : along nasal
branches
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

12. Sphenopalatine Ganglion
Superior salivary
nucleus
Facial nerve
Greater
petrosal n
Maxillary n.
Deep
petrosal N.
Nerve of
pterygoid canal
Sphenopalatine
ganglion
ICA
Sympathetic
chain
Sphenopalatine
ganglion
Greater
petrosal
N.(parasymp.)
Deep
Petrosal
N.(symp.)
Nerve to
pterygoid
canal
(vidian N.)
Maxillary
nerve
Sensory
roots
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

13. Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen
Parasympathetic fibres by facial nerve

14. CILIARY GANGLION
SITE: in the fat between optic nerve & lateral
rectus muscle
NUCLEUS: Edinger Westphal of oculomotor
(midbrain)
Preganglionic Fibres: pass along oculomotor
through nerve to inferior oblique
Postganglionic Fibres : pass along short ciliary
nerves to sphincter pupillae & ciliary muscles
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

15. Ciliary Ganglion Long ciliary nerves
Short ciliary nerves
Ciliary
ganglion Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

16. Ciliary GanglionA minute parasympathetic ganglion lateral to the optic nerve (1-2 mm)
Site: posterior part of orbit near to apex
in between the optic nerve (medially)
&lateral rectus (laterally)
Roots:
Sensory: from nasociliary nerve
Parasympathetic (preganglionic):
from nerve to inferior oblique
Sympathetic (postganglionic):
from plexus around internal
carotid artery
Branches:
short ciliary nerves20-15
1.Pierce the sclera around the optic N.
2.They carry:
a. Sensory fibers: to the cornea,
choroid and iris
b. Postganglionic Parasympathetic
fibers: to sphincter pupillae and ciliary
muscles
Sympathetic fibers: to ciliary vessels Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

17. 1. The preganglionic fibers originate from Edinger Westphal nucleus in the midbrain
& run with the oculomotor nerve to relay in the ciliary ganglion.
2. From the ciliary ganglion, postganglionic fibers are carried by the short ciliary
nerves to innervate the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscles”.
Parasympathetic innervation ( Ciliary ganglion)
Sympathetic innervation : ( enter the ciliary ganglion & leave it without relay)
1. Preganglionic sympathetic fibres relay in Superior cervical ganglion
2. Postganglionic fibres are carried by long ciliary nerves from sympathetic plexus
around the internal carotid artery to supply dilator pupillae muscle
Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen

18. Prof. Laila M. Aboul Mahasen