Submandibular ganglion
Ganglion · CN VII Chorda tympani Lingual nerve
Hangs from the lingual nerve on hyoglossus, above the deep part of the submandibular gland. Preganglionic fibres arrive in chorda tympani, which left the facial nerve in the middle ear and joined the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa.
Traced from the start
Detail
- Preganglionic route
- Superior salivatory nucleus → chorda tympani → crosses the tympanic membrane medially → petrotympanic fissure → joins lingual nerve (V3) 2 cm below the skull base
- Postganglionic distribution
- Direct branches to the submandibular gland; fibres rejoining the lingual nerve to the sublingual and anterior lingual glands
- Sympathetic passers-by
- Fibres from the plexus on the facial artery pass through to constrict gland vessels
When it goes wrong
Middle ear surgery, cholesteatoma or a facial canal lesion damaging chorda tympani
Ipsilateral loss of taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue with reduced submandibular and sublingual salivation
Submandibular gland excision or a floor of mouth procedure injuring the lingual nerve
Numbness of the ipsilateral anterior tongue with loss of taste and dry mouth on that side
Practise this structure
2 questions in the bank tagged Facial Nerve.
A 52-year-old woman has had two months of numbness over the right forehead, the right upper eyelid and the tip of her nose, with a gritty feeling in the right e…
Foundations · middle twist
A 44-year-old man has had drooping of the right side of his face for three days. He drools from the right corner of his mouth, the right nasolabial fold is flat…
Foundations · common