THE "SUPEPJOR MAXILLARY NERVE. 



541 



Internal branches. — These consist of the naso-palatine, and the 

 upper and interior nasal, which ramify in the lining membrane of the 

 nasal foss^ and adjoining sinuses. 



The iipivn' nasal are very small branches, and enter the back part of the nasal 

 fossa by the spheno-palatine foramen. Some are prolonged to the upper and 

 posterior part of the septum . and the remainder ramify in the membrane covering 

 the upper two spongy bones, and in that lining the posterior ethmoid cells. A 

 branch, as has been already stated, forms a connection in the wall of the 

 maxillary sinus, above the eye-tooth, with the anterior dental nerve. 



The nasv-palatine nercc. nerve of Cotunnius (Scaipa). long and slender, leaves 

 the inner side of the ganglion with the preceding branches, and after crossing 

 the roof of the nasal fossa is directed do^^^lwards and forwards on the septum 

 nasi towards the anterior palatine canal, situated between the periosteum and the 

 pituitary membrane. The nerves of opposite sides descend to the palate through 

 the mesial subdivisions of the canal, called the foramina of Scaipa. the nerve of 

 the right side usually behind that of the left. In the lower common foramen 

 the two naso-palatine nerves are connected with each other in a fine plexus ; 

 and they end in several filaments, which are distributed to the papillas behind 

 the incisor teeth, and communicate with the gi-eat palatine nerve. In its course 

 along the septum, small filaments are fui-nished from the naso-palatine nen-e 

 to the pituitary membrane. (See fig. 402. This nerve was discovered inde- 

 pendently by John Hunter and Cotunnius ; see Hunter's " ObseiTations on 

 certain parts of the Animal Economy; " and Scaipa, '•Annotationes Anatomic*," 

 lib. ii.) 



Posterior branches. — The branches directed backwards from the 

 spheno-palatine ganglion are the Vidian and pharyngeal nerves. 

 The Vidian nerve arises from the back part of the ganglion, which seems to 



Fig. 33 D. 



Fig. 339. — Nerves of the Nose and op the Spheno-Palatine Ganglion from tes 

 Inner Side (from Sappey after HirschfelJ and Leveille). § 



1, network of the branches of the olfactory nerve descending upon the membrane 

 covering the superior and middle turbinated boues ; 2, external twig of the ethmoidal 

 branch of the nasal nerve ; 3, spheno-palatine ganglion ; 4, ramification of the anterior 

 division of the palatine nerves ; 5, posterioi-, and 6, middle divisions of the palatine 

 nerves ; 7, branch to the membrane on the lower turbinated bone ; 8, branch to the 

 superior and middle turbinated bones ; 9, naso-palatine branch to the septum cut short ; 

 10, Vidian nerve ; 11, its great superficial petrosal branch ; 12, its carotid branch ; 13, 

 the sympathetic nerves ascending on the internal carotid artery. 



