The superior ganglion of the vagus nerve, (jugular ganglion) is a sensory ganglion of the

peripheral nervous system The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of two components that make up the nervous system of bilateral animals, with the other part being the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS consists of nerves and ganglia, which lie outside the brain ...

. It is located within the

jugular foramen A jugular foramen is one of the two (left and right) large foramina (openings) in the base of the skull, located behind the carotid canal. It is formed by the temporal bone and the occipital bone. It allows many structures to pass, including the ...

, where the

vagus nerve The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve, cranial nerve X, or simply CN X, is a cranial nerve that interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. It comprises two nerves—the left and righ ...

exits the skull. It is smaller than and proximal to the inferior ganglion of the vagus nerve.

Structure

The neurons in the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve are

pseudounipolar A pseudounipolar neuron is a type of neuron which has one extension from its cell body. This type of neuron contains an axon that has split into two branches. A single process arises from the cell body and then divides into an axon and a dendrite. ...

and provide sensory innervation (

general somatic afferent The general somatic afferent fibers (GSA, or somatic sensory fibers) afferent fibers arise from neurons in sensory ganglia and are found in all the spinal nerves, except occasionally the first cervical, and conduct impulses of pain, touch and temp ...

) through either the auricular or meningeal branch. The

axon An axon (from Greek ἄξων ''áxōn'', axis), or nerve fiber (or nerve fibre: see spelling differences), is a long, slender projection of a nerve cell, or neuron, in vertebrates, that typically conducts electrical impulses known as action p ...

s of these neurons synapse in the

spinal trigeminal nucleus The spinal trigeminal nucleus is a nucleus in the medulla that receives information about deep/crude touch, pain, and temperature from the ipsilateral face. In addition to the trigeminal nerve (CN V), the facial (CN VII), glossopharyngeal (CN IX), ...

of the brainstem. Peripherally, the neurons found in the superior ganglion form two branches, the auricular and meningeal branch.

Function

Auricular branch of the vagus nerve

The superior ganglion contains neurons which innervate the concha of the auricle, the posteroinferior surface of the

external auditory canal The ear canal (external acoustic meatus, external auditory meatus, EAM) is a pathway running from the outer ear to the middle ear. The adult human ear canal extends from the pinna to the eardrum and is about in length and in diameter. Stru ...

and posteroinferior surface of the

tympanic membrane In the anatomy of humans and various other tetrapods, the eardrum, also called the tympanic membrane or myringa, is a thin, cone-shaped membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. Its function is to transmit sound from the a ...

all via the

auricular branch of the vagus nerve The auricular branch of the vagus nerve is often termed the Alderman's nerve or Arnold's nerve. The latter name is an eponym for Friedrich Arnold. The auricular branch of the vagus nerve supplies sensory innervation to the skin of the ear canal, t ...

Meningeal branch of the vagus nerve

The superior ganglion contains neurons which innervate some of the

dura mater In neuroanatomy, dura mater is a thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It is the outermost of the three layers of membrane called the meninges that protect the central nervous system. ...

lining the

posterior cranial fossa The posterior cranial fossa is part of the cranial cavity, located between the foramen magnum and tentorium cerebelli. It contains the brainstem and cerebellum. This is the most inferior of the fossae. It houses the cerebellum, medulla and pons. ...

via the meningeal branch of the vagus nerve.

Development

The neurons in the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve are embryonically derived from the

neural crest Neural crest cells are a temporary group of cells unique to vertebrates that arise from the embryonic ectoderm germ layer, and in turn give rise to a diverse cell lineage—including melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage and bone, smooth muscle, per ...

Clinical significance

Vagal neuralgia

Pain in the external auditory canal (

otalgia Ear pain, also known as earache or otalgia, is pain in the ear. Primary ear pain is pain that originates from the ear. Secondary ear pain is a type of referred pain, meaning that the source of the pain differs from the location where the pain ...

) can in rare cases be due to vagal neuralgia because of vascular compression of the vagus nerve (often by the

posterior inferior cerebellar artery The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) is the largest branch of the vertebral artery. It is one of the three main arteries that supply blood to the cerebellum, a part of the brain. Blockage of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery can r ...

). The affected neurons are found in the superior ganglion and innervate the ear via the auricular branch of the vagus. The condition is treated by

microvascular decompression Microvascular decompression (MVD), also known as the Jannetta procedure, is a neurosurgical procedure used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (along with other cranial nerve neuralgias) a pain syndrome characterized by severe episodes of intense facial p ...

of the vagus nerve where it exits the brainstem.

References

{{Authority control Vagus nerve Nervous ganglia of the head and neck