Deep petrosal nerve
| Deep petrosal nerve | |
|---|---|
Alveolar branches of superior maxillary nerve and sphenopalatine ganglion. (Deep petrosal labeled at bottom, center-right.) | |
| Details | |
| From | Internal carotid plexus |
| To | Nerve of pterygoid canal |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nervus petrosus profundus |
| TA98 | A14.3.02.008 |
| TA2 | 6647 |
| FMA | 67549 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The deep petrosal nerve is a post-ganglionic branch of the (sympathetic) internal carotid (nervous) plexus (which is in turn derived from the superior cervical ganglion, a part of the cervical sympathetic trunk) that enters the cranial cavity through the carotid canal.[1][2] It then passes perpendicular to the carotid canal in the cartilaginous substance which fills the foramen lacerum to unite with the (parasympathetic) greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial nerve (CV VII)) to form the nerve of pterygoid canal (Vidian nerve).[1][3] Through this connection it conveys sympathetic fibers through the pterygopalatine ganglion without synapsing.[4] These post-ganglionic fibers are distributed to the nasal cavity, palate, and lacrimal gland via branches of the maxillary nerve.[5] The deep petrosal nerve contributes to autonomic regulation of glandular secretion and vascular tone in regions of the nasal cavity and palate and is relevant in surgical approaches involving the pterygopalatine fossa.[6]
Anatomy
The path of the fibers from the spine to the lacrimal gland is as follows: intermediate grey column (of spinal cord at around the level of T1) → white rami communicantes (of cervical part of sympathetic chain) → superior cervical ganglion (synapse) → gray rami communicantes → internal carotid plexus → deep petrosal nerve → nerve of pterygoid canal → pterygopalatine ganglion (fibres pass through without synapsing) → zygomatic nerve → zygomaticotemporal nerve → lacrimal nerve.[7]
Origin
The cell bodies of pre-ganglionic sympathetic axons that subsequently give synapse with neurons of the deep petrosal nerve reside in the intermediate grey column of the spinal cord at around the spinal level of T1. The pre-ganglionic axons ascend in the sympathetic trunk to synapse at the superior cervical ganglion where the cell bodies of the fibres of the deep petrosal nerve are situated. The post-ganglionic fibres do not synapse again and ultimately innervate their target tissues directly.[1]
Function
The deep petrosal nerve carries post-ganglionic sympathetic axons which are ultimately distributed to the blood vessels (to mediate vasoconstriction), and exocrine glands of the lacrimal gland, nasal cavity, and oral cavity (to mediate secretomotor function).[1]
Additional images
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Sympathetic connections of the pterygopalatine and superior cervical ganglia.
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Depicts nerve branches that are involved in the autonomic innervation of the lacrimal gland. The terminal parts of the pathway are variable between individuals and differ for the other glands of the deep face.
References
- ^ a b c d Goosmann, Madeline M.; Dalvin, Mark (2023), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Deep Petrosal Nerve", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30521238, retrieved 2023-07-31
- ^ Standring, Susan; Tubbs, R. Shane, eds. (December 30, 2025). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (43rd ed.). Elsevier. ISBN 9780443124785.
- ^ Goosmann, Madeline M.; Dalvin, Mark (2026), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Deep Petrosal Nerve", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 30521238, retrieved 2026-03-10
- ^ Rusu, M. C.; Pop, F. (2010-02-20). "The anatomy of the sympathetic pathway through the pterygopalatine fossa in humans". Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger. 192 (1): 17–22. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2009.10.003. ISSN 0940-9602.
- ^ Lundy, Jason A.; McNary, Thomas (2026), "Neuroanatomy, Pterygopalatine Ganglion", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31424892, retrieved 2026-03-10
- ^ Nturibi, Eric; Fakoya, Adegbenro O.; Bordoni, Bruno (2026), "Anatomy, Head and Neck: Greater Petrosal Nerve", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31971760, retrieved 2026-03-10
- ^ Arias-López, Luz Amparo (2025), Pinilla Bonilla, Laura Bibiana; Beltrán Dussán, Eduardo Humberto; Angarita Lezama, Agustín Ricardo (eds.), "Anatomy of the Nervous System", Neuraltherapeutic Medicine: An Evolution of Neural Therapy, Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 139–172, doi:10.1007/978-3-032-03257-7_11, ISBN 978-3-032-03257-7, retrieved 2026-03-10
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This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 892 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
External links
- "7-17". Cranial Nerves. Yale School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.
- Table at doctor_uae