The two pterygopalatine nerves (or sphenopalatine branches) descend to the
pterygopalatine ganglion
The pterygopalatine ganglion (aka Meckel's ganglion, nasal ganglion, or sphenopalatine ganglion) is a parasympathetic ganglion found in the pterygopalatine fossa. It is largely innervated by the greater petrosal nerve (a branch of the facial ne ...
.
Although it is closely related to the pterygopalatine ganglion, it is still considered a branch of the
maxillary nerve
In neuroanatomy, the maxillary nerve (V) is one of the three branches or divisions of the trigeminal nerve, the fifth (CN V) cranial nerve. It comprises the principal functions of sensation from the maxilla, nasal cavity, sinuses, the palate a ...
and does not synapse in the ganglion.
It is found in the
pterygopalatine fossa
In human anatomy, the pterygopalatine fossa (sphenopalatine fossa) is a fossa in the skull. A human skull contains two pterygopalatine fossae—one on the left side, and another on the right side. Each fossa is a cone-shaped paired depression deep ...
.
Additional images
File:Gray778.png, Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion.
References
Maxillary nerve
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