Nerve of pterygoid canal

Nerve of pterygoid canal
Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Vidian nerve labeled at upper right.)
Details
From	greater petrosal nerve, deep petrosal nerve
To	pterygopalatine ganglion
Identifiers
Latin	n. canalis pterygoidei
TA	A14.3.02.007
FMA	67584
*Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy* [edit on Wikidata]

The nerve of the pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve) is formed by the junction of the greater petrosal nerve and the deep petrosal nerve within the pterygoid canal containing the cartilaginous substance which fills the foramen lacerum.

Course

It passes forward through the pterygoid canal with its corresponding artery (artery of the pterygoid canal) and is joined by a small ascending sphenoidal branch from the otic ganglion. It then enters the pterygopalatine fossa and joins the posterior angle of the pterygopalatine ganglion.
The vidian nerve does not fill the foramen lacerum. The deep and great petrosal nerves join together to form the vidian nerve, which passes over the foramen lacerum. It is commonly stated that nothing passes through the foramen lacerum, but a more detailed look shows that emissary veins enter here.
The deep petrosal nerve does not have parasympathetic fibers. It comes from the Superior Sympathetic Cervical Ganglion off of the Sympathetic trunk. At this point, all sympathetic fibers are considered Sympathetic-Postganglionic.

Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers from the facial nerve (contained within the greater petrosal nerve) which synapse in pterygopalatine ganglion
Sympathetic postganglionic fibers from the deep petrosal nerve which do not synapse in pterygopalatine ganglion.

Innervation

The postganglionic parasympathetic fibers of the greater petrosal nerve, upon synapsing in the pterygopalatine ganglion, will distribute to the nose, palate, and lacrimal gland through various nerves leaving the pterygopalatine fossa.

Additional images

Alveolar branches of superior maxillary nerve and pterygopalatine ganglion.
Diagram of the cervical sympathetic.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (VII) ("NPC")

The trigeminal nerve

ophthalmic (V1)

frontal	supratrochlear supraorbital lateral branch medial branch

nasociliary	long ciliary infratrochlear posterior ethmoidal anterior ethmoidal external nasal internal nasal sensory root of ciliary ganglion ciliary ganglion

other	lacrimal

maxillary (V2)

in meninges

middle meningeal

in pterygopalatine fossa

zygomatic
- zygomaticotemporal
- zygomaticofacial
pterygopalatine
- pterygopalatine ganglion see below for details
posterior superior alveolar

in infraorbital canal

infraorbital nerve:	superior alveolar anterior middle posterior internal nasal branches

on face

mandibular (V3)

in meninges	meningeal

anterior	to muscles of mastication medial pterygoid/to tensor veli palatini lateral pterygoid masseteric deep temporal buccal

posterior	auriculotemporal otic ganglion lingual submandibular ganglion inferior alveolar mylohyoid mental

Anatomy of the autonomic nervous system

Head

Sympathetic	Ciliary ganglion: roots Sensory Sympathetic Short ciliary

Parasympathetic	Ciliary ganglion: roots Sensory Parasympathetic Short ciliary Pterygopalatine ganglion: deep petrosal nerve of pterygoid canal branches of distribution: greater palatine inferior posterior nasal branches lesser palatine nasopalatine medial superior posterior nasal branches pharyngeal Submandibular ganglion Otic ganglion

Neck

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Cervical ganglia Superior Middle Inferior Stellate ganglion prevertebral plexus: Cavernous plexus Internal carotid

Chest

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Thoracic ganglia prevertebral plexus: Cardiac plexus Esophageal plexus Pulmonary plexus Thoracic aortic plexus splanchnic nerves: cardiopulmonary thoracic cardiac nerves: Superior Middle Inferior

Abdomen

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Lumbar ganglia prevertebral ganglia: Celiac ganglia Aorticorenal Superior mesenteric ganglion Inferior mesenteric ganglion prevertebral plexus: Celiac plexus Hepatic Splenic Pancreatic aorticorenal Abdominal aortic plexus Renal/Suprarenal Superior mesenteric Gastric Inferior mesenteric Spermatic Ovarian Superior hypogastric hypogastric nerve Superior rectal Inferior hypogastric Vesical Prostatic / Cavernous nerves of penis Uterovaginal Middle rectal splanchnic nerves: Lumbar splanchnic nerves

Enteric	Submucous plexus Myenteric plexus

Pelvis

Sympathetic	paravertebral ganglia: Sacral ganglia Ganglion impar splanchnic nerves: Sacral splanchnic nerves

Parasympathetic	splanchnic nerves: Pelvic splanchnic nerves

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