The pterygopalatine ganglion ( ganglion

of hay fever )
(Meckel's ganglion, nasal
ganglion or sphenopalatine ganglion) is
a parasympathetic ganglionfound in the
pterygopalatine fossa.
Functionally ,it is related to cranial nerve
Vll.
• Size ;- head of a small pin

• Relations
Behind ;- pterygoid canal
Medial ;-sphenopalatine foramen
In front ;- perpendicular plate of
palatine
Above ;- maxillary nerve
pterygopalatine ganglion (Meckel's ganglion, nasal
ganglion or sphenopalatine ganglion)
STRUCTURE
• The pterygopalatine ganglion (of Meckel), the largest of the
parasympathetic ganglia associated with the branches of the
maxillary nerve,

• it is deeply placed in the pterygopalatine fossa, close to the

sphenopalatine foramen.

• It is triangular or heart-shaped, of a reddish-gray color, and

is situated just below the maxillary nerve as it crosses the
fossa.

• The pterygopalatine ganglion supplies the lacrimal gland,

paranasal sinuses, glands of the mucosa of the nasal cavity
and pharynx, the gingiva, and the mucous membrane and
glands of the hard palate.

• It communicates anteriorly with the nasopalatine nerve .

ROOTS
• It receives a sensory, a
parasympathetic, and a sympathetic
root.

Sensory root
• Its sensory root is derived from two
sphenopalatine branches of the
maxillary nerve;

• their fibers, for the most part, pass directly

into the palatine nerves; a few, however,
enter the ganglion, constituting its sensory
root.
Parasympathetic root or Secretomotor
(a) The preganglionic parasympathetic fibres arise from lacrimatory nucleus in the pons and
pass through nervous intermedius – geniculate ganglion,- greater petrosal nerve, -nerve of
pterygoid canal to reach the pterygopalatine ganglion where they relay.
(b) The postganglionic fibres arise from the cells of the pterygopalatine ganglion and pass
through maxillary nerve,- zygomatic nerve, -zygomaticotemporal nerve and lacrimal nerve
to reach the lacrimal gland.

• The nasal glands are innervated with secretomotor from the greater petrosal nerve.
• palatine glands are innervated by the nasopalatine, greater palatine nerve and
lesser palatine nerves.
• The pharyngeal nerve innervates pharyngeal glands. These are all branches of
maxillary nerve.
SYMPATHETIC ROOT
• The ganglion also consists of sympathetic
efferent (postganglionic) fibers from the
superior cervical ganglion.

• These fibers, from the superior cervical

ganglion, travel through the carotid plexus
,around the internal carotid artery and then
pass through the ganglion without
interruption & supply mucous membrane of
nose ,palate ,& naso - pharynx & para nasal
air sinuses.
Branches
• Orbital branches

• Nasopalatine nerve

• Greater palatine nerve

• Lesser palatine nerve

NASAL BRANCHES ;- (Medial and Lateral Posterior S

uperior and Posterior Inferior Nasal Branches
)

• Pharyngeal branch of maxillary nerve

• Greater palatine nerve
• Descends through the greater palatine canal.
• Comes out through the greater palatine foramen .
• Supplies the mucous membrane of the hard palate .
• Lesser palatine nerve
• Descends through the greater palatine canal.
• Come out through the lesser palatine foramen .
• Supplies the mucous membrane of the soft palate ,uvula & tonsil .
• NASAL BRANCHES ;- (Medial and Lateral Posterior Superior Nasal Branches )
• Enter the nasal cavity through the sphenopalatine foramen
• Lateral posterior superior nasal nerve – six in number , supply the posterior parts of the superior & middle
conchae .
• Medial Posterior Superior Nasal Branches ;- three in number , supply the posterior part of the roof of the
nose & of the nasal septum .
• Nasopalatine nerve – descend up to the anterior part of the hard palate ,through the incisive
foramen ,supply incisive & mucous membrane .
• Orbital branches
• Passes through the inferior orbital fissure
• Supply the periosteum of orbit & orbitalis
muscles .
• Pharyngeal branch
• Passes through the palatovaginal canal
• supply the part of the nasopharynx
behind the auditory tube .
Applied anatomy
• Injury to pterygopalatine ganglion ;-
- lead to loss of secretion by lacrimal gland , nasal glands & palatine glands .
• Hey fever ( ganglion of hay fever )
- If its irritated or infected ,causes congestion of the glands of palate & nose including the
lacrimal gland producing running nose & lacrimation .the condition is called hey fever .
- The ganglion is called ganglion of hey fever .
The otic ganglion
• It is a small parasympathetic ganglion located
immediately below the foramen ovale

• In the infratemporal fossa and on the medial surface of

the mandibular nerve.

• It is functionally associated with the

glossopharyngeal nerve and innervates the parotid gland
for salivation.

Structure

• The otic ganglion is a small (2–3 mm), oval shaped,

flattened parasympathetic ganglion of a reddish-grey
color,
• RELATION,

• laterally, with the trunk of the mandibular nerve

at the point where the motor and sensory roots
join;

• medially, with the cartilaginous part of the

auditory tube, and the origin of the tensor veli
palatini

• posteriorly, with the middle meningeal artery. It

surrounds the origin of the nerve to the
medial pterygoid.
Connections
parasympathetic root –
• originate in the inferior salivatory nucleus of the glossopharyngeal nerve.
• They leave the glossopharyngeal nerve by its tympanic branch
• Then pass via the tympanic plexus and the lesser petrosal nerve to the otic ganglion. Here, the fibres synapse,
• The postganglionic fibers pass by communicating branches to the auriculotemporal nerve, which conveys them
to the parotid gland. They produce vasodilator and secretomotor effects.

sympathetic root
• It is derived from the plexus on the middle meningeal artery.
• It contains post-ganglionic fibers arising in the superior cervical ganglion.
• The fibers pass through the ganglion without relay and reach the parotid gland via the auriculotemporal nerve.
They are vasomotor in function.

sensory root
• It comes from the auriculotemporal nerve and is sensory to the parotid gland.
motor root
• supplying the medial pterygoid and the tensor palati and the tensor tympani pass through the ganglion without
relay.
 Applied anatomy
• Injury to otic ganglion; - lead to loss of secrection by paroid salivary gland