18S6.1 ' J- J- [Stowell. 



lished in the Medical Times, February 24, 1883, and reprinted in the 

 Medical Record, March 31, 1883, p. 363.) 



Intercranial Relations. — The facial nerve traverses the serpentine flex- 

 ions of the aqueduclus Fallopii to the foramen stylo-mastoideura. The 

 course In the aqueduct is first laterad for 2-3 mm.; an abrupt cliange iu 

 direction at this point forms an angle which is directly mesad of the fossa 

 occupied by the spherical tensor tympani muscle ; peripherad of the angle 

 the course arches first dorsad (the concavity being ventro-laterad), then 

 laterad (the concavity being ventrad) for 5-7 mm., and lies caudad of the 

 tensor tympani muscle. 



About 10 mm. peripherad of the ental meatus auditorius there is a con- 

 siderable expansion in the aqueduct, about 2 mm. in length ; in this fossa 

 a reddish swelling rests upon the facial nerve. This is the ganglion geuic- 

 ulatum, or intumescentia ganglitormis.* 



From this point the course is laterad to the stylo-mastoid foramen. 



At the angle (Fig. Ang. ) a considerable twig 2 mm. in length is given 

 off, which traverses a foramen to the ental surface of the cranium, where 

 it divides into four ramuli, which become respectively the mesal root of 

 the great superficial petrosal nerve, the small superficial petrosal, a ramu- 

 lus to the sympathic plexus in the carotid rete arteriale, and a fascicle to 

 the eminence on the caudo-lateral angle of the Gasserian ganglia. At a 

 point caudad of the stapedius muscle a fascicle, the tympanic nerve, is 

 sent to that muscle. (It is not clear but that this fascicle has its origin in 

 the geniculate ganglion instead of the nerve trunk.) 



Caudad of the geniculate ganglion the fallopian aqueduct arches latero- 

 caudad (the concavity being mesad). In this canal, immediately caudad 

 of the ganglion, are two fasciculi separated by a slender arteriole. These 

 are the chorda tympani and the united anastomotic branch to the glosso- 

 pharyngeal and the vagus nerves with the long root of the petrosal nerve, 

 q. V. The geniculate ganglion embraces these united nerves and the 

 trunk of the facial. 



About 5-8 mm. peripherad of the ganglion, where the arch reaches its 

 ventral angle and begins to curve cephalad (the concavity being dorsad), 

 the anastomotic branch bends ventri-mesad, and 5 mm. peripherad it bi- 

 furcates to join the petrosal ganglion of the glosso pharyngeal nerve and 

 the jugular ganglion of the vagus. This is a portion of the auricular 

 branch of the vagus. This point of separation is also the origin of the 

 long root of the great petrosal, q. v. 



Chorda Tympani. — This nerve, or the nervus tympano-lingualis, has 

 its origin and course as given above ; it continues cephalad in the canal, 

 accompanied by a slender arteriole ; it bends dorsad to enter the tj'm- 

 panum through the iter chordce ])osterius ; it crosses the tj'mpanum about 



♦The author has not at this date completed experiments to satisfy himself .is 

 to the relation of this body ; whether tlie relation is one rif position only or one 

 of structure — that is, whether it is a ganglion of the facial nerve, or is peculiar 

 to the great superficial petrosal nerve and merely rests upon the facial. 



