Autonomic Ganglia in the Head

Each receives parasympathetic fibers from a CN, and sympathetic fibers from Superior Sympathetic Cervical Ganglia (SCG).

Ganglia	Parasympathetic Source	Sympathetic Source
Ciliary	CN III	SCG via plexus on Internal Carotid Artery
Pterygopalatine	CN VII via Greater Petrosal Nerve	SCG via plexus on Internal Carotid Artery
Otic	CN IX via Lesser Petrosal Nerve	SCG via plexus on Middle Meningeal Artery
Submandibular	CN VII via Chorda Tympani Nerve	SCG via plexus on Facial Artery

Ciliary Ganglion

Location – right behind the eye

Parasympathetic – Oculomotor (CN III) enters eye via Superior Orbital Fissure, bringing in the parasympathetic preganglionic fibers. These preganglionic fibers synapse on postganglionic cells in the Ciliary Ganglia, and then continue as the Short Ciliary Nerve. to innervate the muscles of the pupil.

Sympathetic – Sympathetic fibers from the SCG run up on the Internal Carotid Artery, enter the eye, and run (DO NOT SYNPASE!) through the Ciliary Ganglia and Short Ciliary Nerve to directly innervate the muscles of the pupil.

Summary: Ciliary ganglion (supplies ciliary muscle) receives input from:

(1) V₁ (via the ciliary branch of the nasociliary nerve)

(2) inferior division of III (from the Edinger-Westphal Nucleus)

(3) Superior Cervical Ganglion (sympathetic)

Pterygopalatine Ganglion

Location – between sphenoid and palatine bones

Parasympathetic – Facial (CN VII) runs into the ear via the Internal Acoustic Meatus to form the Geniculate Ganglia. At this point CN VII becomes three things: Greater Petrosal Nerve, Chorda Tympani Nerve, and posterior auricular. The Greater Petrosal Nerve combines with the Deep Petrosal Nerve (see below) to form the Vidian Nerve which continues to the Pterygopalatine Ganglia. This structure is a little ball hanging off CN V₂. The parasympathetic fibers from CN VII enter V₂ and continue to innervate multiple structures, including:

Lacrimal Gland (via Zygomatic Nerve Þ communicating branch Þ Lacrimal Nerve)

Infraorbital Glands and vessels of mucous membrane (via Infraorbital Nerve)

Glands above teeth (via Infraorbital nerve Þ Superior Alveolar Nerves)

Glands and vessles of palate (via Greater and Lesser Palatine Nerves)

Sympathetic – Sympathetic fibers from the SCG run up on the Internal Carotid Artery and form the Deep Petrosal N.Þ Vidian N.Þ Pterygopalatine GangliaÞ follow the same tracts as the parasympathetic fibers above.

Summary: Pterygopalatine Ganglion (supplies lacrimal gland via lacrimal nerve as well as branches of V₂) receives input from:

(1) V₂

(2) vidian nerve – receives input from:

(a) greater petrosal nerve – from geniculate ganglion (nerve VII, from superior nucleus salvatorius)

(b) deep petrosal nerve – from superior cervical ganglion

Otic

Location – next to parotid gland

Parasympathetic – Glossopharyngeal (CN IX) Þ Tympanic N. Þ Tympanic Plexus Þ Lesser Petrosal N. Þ Otic Ganglion. The Otic Ganglia is a little ball hanging off CN V₃. The parasympathetic fibers run up into the Auriculotemporal Nerve (branch of V₃) which brings the parasympathetic fibers into the Parotid Gland.

Sympathetic – Sympathetic fibers from the SCG run up the Middle Meningeal A. and enter the Otic Ganglia. From here on they follow the same path as the parasympathetic fibers.

Summary: Otic ganglion (supplies parotid gland via auriculotemporal nerve) receives input from:

(1) V₃

(2) lesser petrosal nerve (a branch of CN IX from tympanic plexus)

(3) inferior nucleus salvatorius

Submandibular

Location – in submandibular region

Parasympathetic – From the Geniculate Ganglia the Facial (CN 7) also gives off a branch called the Chorda Tympani Nerve. This nerve runs down into the Submandibular Ganglia and enters the Lingual Nerve (branch of V₃) to go to the tongue.

Sympathetic – Sympathetic fibers from the SCG run up the Facial A. and enter the Otic Ganglia. From here on they follow the same path as the parasympathetic fibers.

Summary: submandibular ganglion (supplies submandibular gland) receives input from:

(1) lingual nerve of V₃ – carries fibers from chorda tympani nerve, which is itself a branch of CN VII from the superior nucleus salvatorius

(2) superior cervical ganglion – travels along facial artery