The inferior tympanic canaliculus is a small passage of the

tympanic branch The tympanic nerve (Jacobson’s nerve) is a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve found near the ear. It gives sensation to the middle ear, the Eustachian tube, the parotid gland, and mastoid air cells. It gives parasympathetic to supply to the ...

of the

glossopharyngeal nerve The glossopharyngeal nerve (), also known as the ninth cranial nerve, cranial nerve IX, or simply CN IX, is a cranial nerve that exits the brainstem from the sides of the upper Medulla oblongata, medulla, just anterior (closer to the nose) to t ...

and inferior tympanic artery. In the bony ridge dividing the

carotid canal The carotid canal is a passageway in the temporal bone of the skull through which the internal carotid artery enters the middle cranial fossa from the neck. Structure The carotid canal is located within the middle cranial fossa, at the petrous ...

from the

jugular fossa The jugular fossa is a deep depression in the inferior part of the temporal bone at the base of the skull. It lodges the bulb of the internal jugular vein. Structure The jugular fossa is located in the temporal bone, posterior to the carotid can ...

is the small inferior tympanic canaliculus. The inferior tympanic canaliculus is near the fossula petrosa which houses inferior ganglion of glossopharyngeal nerve/

petrous ganglion The inferior ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve (petrosal ganglion) is a sensory ganglion. It is larger than and inferior to the superior ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve. It is located within the jugular foramen. The pseudounipolar ne ...

from which the

tympanic nerve The tympanic nerve (Jacobson’s nerve) is a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve found near the ear. It gives sensation to the middle ear, the Eustachian tube, the parotid gland, and mastoid air cells. It gives parasympathetic to supply to the ...

arises.

References

Foramina of the skull {{musculoskeletal-stub