Pterygopalatine ganglion, maxillary vessels (dave's notes)

Question 1

How else is the pterygopalatine ganglion known?

Answer 1

The ganglion of hayfever

Question 2

What does the pterygopalatine ganglion lie in front of?

Answer 2

The pterygoid canal

Question 3

What is the pterygopalatine ganglion the relay station for?

Answer 3

The superior salivary nucleus (pons) and the lacrimal, mucous and serous glands.

Question 4

What is the autonomic supply to the pterygopalatine ganglion from?

Answer 4

The nerve of the pterygoid canal, formed form the greater petrosal nerve (parasympathetic) and the deep petrosal nerve (sympathetic, from carotid)

Question 5

What fibres leave the pterygopalatine ganglion.? Where do they go?

Answer 5

Lacrimal secretomotor fibres leave cell bodies in the ganglion and join the maxillary nerve -> zygomatic branch -> ophthalmic nerve -> lacrimal gland

Question 6

What non-secretomotor fibres are found in the ganglion?

Answer 6

The rest are sensory and pass through without relay.

Question 7

What are the cell bodies?

Answer 7

Parasympathetic

Question 8

List the branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion

Answer 8

Nasopalatine
Lateral posterior superior nasal nerves
Greater palatine nerve
Lesser palatine nerves (2)
Pharyngeal nerve

Question 9

What is the course of the nasopalatine nerve?

Answer 9

Through the sphenopalatine foramen to the septum and incisive gum of the hard palate

Question 10

What is the course of the lateral posterior superior nasal nerves?

Answer 10

Through the sphenopalatine foemen to the superolateral wall of the nose

Question 11

What is the course of the greater palatine nerve

Answer 11

Through the greater palatine canal to supply the mucous membrane of the hard palate

Question 12

What is the course of the two lesser palatine nerves?

Answer 12

Through the greater palatine foramen, then throughout the lesser palatine foramen to the mucous membrane of the soft palate and palatine tonsil

Question 13

What is the course of the pharyngeal nerve?

Answer 13

Back throughout he palatocaginal canal to supply the mucous membrane of the upper nasopharynx

Question 14

How does the maxillary artery enter the pterygopalatine fossa? What does it give off first?

Answer 14

Through the pterygomaxillary fissure, having given off its first ten branches to the five nerves of the pterygopalatine ganglion

Question 15

Describe the veins of the pterygopalatine fossa. How do they exit? Where do they drain? What do they accompany?

Answer 15

They accompany the arteries and emerge at the pterygomaxillary fissure to drain into the pterygoid plexus

Question 16

How are the vessels found in the pterygopalatine fossa relative to the nerves?

Answer 16

In general - anterior to the nerves.