Parasympathetic Oculomotor Path to the Eye


Origin:
   parasympathetic nucleus of the oculmotor nerve

Preganglionic Pathway:
   oculomotor nerve

Ganglion:
   ciliary ganglion (located within the orbit)

Postganglionic Pathway:
   short ciliary nerves

Target Organs:
      pupillary constrictor smooth muscle
      ciliary smooth muscle


pre-ganglionic path post-ganglionic path



Textbook Images
(click to view enlarged)

Left. The oculomotor nerve conveys somatic efferent axons to extrinsic eye muscles and parasympathetic preganglionic fibers to the ciliary ganglion within the orbit. Postganglionic axons from the ciliary ganglion run in short ciliary nerves to reach smooth muscle in the iris and ciliary body.

Right. The location of the parasympathetic oculomotor nucleus is shown in drawings of sagittal (top) and transverse (bottom) sections of the brainstem and midbrain.



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