The Parasympathetic Ganglia of the Head and Neck - Neuroanatomy
Georges Aoun
*
Department of Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon and Department of Basic Sciences, Head and Neck Anatomy Division, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
There are four parasympathetic ganglia located within the head: the ciliary, the otic, the pterygopalatine, and the submandibular. They are related to cranial nerves that have parasympathetic activities, such as the oculomotor (CN III), the facial (CN VII), and the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) nerves. Cranial parasympathetic fibers originate from brainstem nuclei and synapse in the peripheral parasympathetic ganglia. This article reviews the anatomy and physiology of these ganglia.
Keywords: Otic ganglion, pterygopalatine ganglion, ciliary ganglion, submandibular ganglion