Deep petrosal nerve

Nerve: Deep petrosal nerve
Alveolar branches of superior maxillary nerve and sphenopalatine ganglion. (Deep petrosal labeled at bottom, center-right.)
Latin	n. petrosus profundus
Gray's	subject #200 892
From	internal carotid plexus
To	nerve of pterygoid canal

The deep petrosal nerve (large deep petrosal nerve) is given off from the carotid plexus, and runs through the carotid canal lateral to the internal carotid artery.

It then enters the cartilaginous substance which fills the foramen lacerum, and joins with the greater superficial petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, also known as the Vidian nerve.

It carries postsynaptic sympathetic nerve fibers to the pterygopalatine ganglion, also known as the sphenopalatine ganglion.

These fibers innervate blood vessels and mucous glands of the head and neck.

Additional images

• 

  Sympathetic connections of the sphenopalatine and superior cervical ganglia.

External links

• Deep+petrosal+nerve at eMedicine Dictionary
• Cranial Nerves at Yale 7-17
• Table at doctor_uae

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.