- Lesser petrosal nerve
Infobox Nerve
Name = Lesser petrosal nerve
Latin = nervus petrosus minor
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Caption = Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves.
Caption2 = Mandibular division of trifacial nerve, seen from the middle line. The small figure is an enlarged view of the otic ganglion. (Small petrosal labeled at center top and bottom right.)
Innervates =parotid gland
BranchFrom =tympanic plexus
BranchTo =otic ganglion
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DorlandsPre = n_05
DorlandsSuf = 12566476The lesser petrosal nerve consists of
parasympathetic fibers. It leaves thetympanic plexus tosynapse in theotic ganglion , and eventually provide parasympathetic innervation to theparotid gland .The tympanic plexus has parasympathetic (
preganglionic ) roots which contribute to the lesser petrosal nerve. Parasympathetic contribution is from thetympanic nerve which branches from theglossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) in thejugular foramen .The lesser petrosal nerve exits the
temporal bone and enters themiddle cranial fossa through thehiatus of lesser petrosal nerve . It then exits the middle cranial fossa throughforamen ovale to the otic ganglion where its parasympathetic fibers synapse. From the otic ganglion, its fibers hitchhike with theauriculotemporal nerve (from V3) to eventually innervate the parotid gland.The
geniculate ganglion also communicates with the lesser petrosal nerve.External links
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* (NormanAnatomyFig|IX)
* (NormanAnatomyFig|midearcavity) (#7)
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