The Structure and Position of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion in the Pterygopalatine Fossa of the Adult Human

It is known that the ciliary, otic and submandibular ganglia of humans, as well as the pterygopalatine ganglion of mammals, lack a sympathetic rootlet, and the presence of a sensory rootlet is determined by the topographic relationships of the ganglion and the branches of the trigeminal nerve. The structure of the human pterygopalatine ganglion has not been considered in this regard. The aim was to study the relationship of the pterygopalatine ganglion with the fibers of the maxillary and deep petrosal nerves and its position in the pterygopalatine fossa. Material and methods . The study was conducted on 46 (26 men and 20 women aged 23–74 years) archival anonymous magnetic resonance tomograms of the head with a step of 5 mm, on serial histotopograms in the horizontal plane, made from 16 blocks (from 8 corpses of men and 8 women aged 37–56 years) and on 12 bilateral macro-micropreparations obtained from 7 corpses of men and 5 corpses of women aged 47–67 years. Results . It has been established that the pterygopalatine ganglion is located in the vestibule of the pterygoid canal below, medially and behind the foramen rotundum. Its anterior pole is located 2–3 mm posterior to the posterior edge of the sphenopalatine foramen. From the anterior pole of the ganglion, a connecting branch is directed to the posterior superior nasal nerve or to the common origin of the posterior superior nasal and greater palatine nerves, containing (on histotopograms) neuronal bodies. The pharyngeal nerve is separated from the medial edge of the ganglion, extending into the palatovaginal canal. In the pterygoid canal, the greater and deep petrosal nerves run separately. The latter in the pterygopalatine fossa deviates from the profile of the pterygopalatine ganglion and gives off branches separated from the ganglion by thin layers of connective tissue. Conclusion . The results obtained during the study of macromicroscopic preparations, histotopograms and magnetic resonance tomograms allow us to state that the pterygopalatine ganglion is located in the vestibule of the pterygoid canal, has only one parasympathetic root, sends branches to the posterior superior nasal nerve or to the common origin of the posterior superior nasal and greater palatine nerves and the pharyngeal nerve. The deep petrosal nerve is not the sympathetic root of the pterygopalatine ganglion, and the maxillary nerve does not send the sensory root to the pterygopalatine ganglion.