Pterygopalatine ganglion in man and its branches and intraganglionic network of myelinated fascicles

Abstract

The pterygopalatine ganglion and its branches in man were studied by dissection, fibre analysis, microreconstruction and injection of vessels, with special reference to the intraganglionic network of myelinated fascicles.
1) The pterygopalatine ligament (tentative name) arose from a fissure between an ala of the vomer and the palatovaginal canal to the most superior part of the maxillary tuberosity. The ligament ran medially along the ganglion, supporting it.
2) The orbital branches arose from the cornical extension of the superior medial part of the ganglion, from 6 to 17 in number in the form of two bundles: anterior and posterior.
3) Three groups of the posterior nasal nerves and the nasopalatine nerve passed through a certain region of the sphenopalatine foramen. The nasopalatine nerve rarely made an elongated ansa which nearly reached the full length of the nasal septum.
4) A bow-shaped sulcus, which lies at the upper part of the medial surface of the medial pterygoid process, is tentatively named ‘pterygopharyngeal sulcus’. A foramen at the uppermost of the pterygopharyngeal sulcus is tentatively named ‘pterygopharyngeal foramen’.
5) The pharyngeal branch entered the pterygopalatine ligament, in which it divided into two branches, palato- and vomero-vaginal. Both branches ran backwards respectively in the canal of the same name. The palatovaginal branch gave off a branch to the roof of the pharynx which supplied the pharyngeal tonsil, and also a branch to the pharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube. The latter passed through the pterygopharyngeal foramen and arched on the pterygopharyngeal sulcus, supplying the anterior part of the pharyngeal orifice of the auditory tube.
6) The postsynaptic fibre of the sympathicus: Branches to the ganglion were given off from the sphenopalatine plexus which was a continuation of the maxillary plexus.
7) The pharyngeal branch of the sphenopalatine artery and the artery of the pterygoid canal were the main arterial sources of the ganglion.
8) Fibre analysis of the pterygopalatine ganglion (six cases): Within the ganglion there was a superb network of myelinated fascicles which consisted of the stereological inner anastomoses of myelinated fascicles. The fascicle network was made up of poles, large and small connecting fascicles. A pole is defined as the point where at least three fascicles anastomose with each other in the ganglion. The ganglion had six kinds of poles: the pterygopalatine, the palatine, the pterygoid canal, the orbital, the nasopalatine and the central. Each pole gave off the nerve of the same name except the central pole.
9) Fibre analysis of the branches of the ganglion was carried out.
10) Histologically the ganglion was divided into two areas: a fibre area and a cell area. Fibre areas corresponded to the myelinated fascicle network. Most of the branches had microscopic ganglia which were made up of from seven to ten ganglion cells.