Parasympathetic Path to Nasal & Lacrimal Glands

Origin:
   parasympathetic nucleus of the facial nerve

Preganglionic Pathway:
   facial nerve (pars intermedia),
   major petrosal nerve,
   nerve of ptyerygoid canal

Ganglion:
   pterygopalatine ganglion

Postganglionic Pathway:
   branches to lacrimal & nasal glands

Target Organs:
      lacrimal gland &
      nasal cavity glands

Parasympathetic Path to Ventral Salivary Glands

Origin:
   parasympathetic nucleus of the facial nerve

Preganglionic Pathway:
   facial nerve (pars intermedia),
   chorda tympani nerve (travels through the middle ear),
   lingual nerve, lingual nerve branch to salivary glands

Ganglion:
   mandibular ganglion (also a sublingual ganglion)

Postganglionic Pathway:
   branches to mandibular & sublingual salivary glands

Target Organs:
      mandibular salivary gland &
      sublingual salivary glands
      (monostomatic and polystomatic sublingual glands)


pre-ganglionic path post-ganglionic path



Textbook Images
(click to view enlarged)

Left. Within the temporal bone, preganglionic parasympathetic fibers leave the facial nerve to synapse in pterygoplatine and mandibular ganglia.

Right. The pterygoplatine ganglion is located beside the maxillary nerve on the medial pterygoid muscles. Postganglionic branches from the ganglion innervate lacrimal and nasal glands.



Go Top