808 



THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



Branches of Communication. This ganglion is connected with the internal 

 pterygoid branch of the inferior maxillary nerve by two or three short, delicate 

 filaments. From this it may obtain a motor root, and possibly also a sensory root, 

 as these filaments from the nerve to the Internal pterygoid may contain sensory 



FIG. 485. The otic ganglion and its branches. 



fibres. It communicates with the glosso-pharyngeal and facial nerves through the 

 small superficial petrosal nerve continued from the tympanic plexus (pages 811 and 

 818), and through this communication it probably receives its sensory root from the 

 glosso-pharyngeal and its motor root from the facial ; its communication with the 

 sympathetic is effected by a filament from the plexus surrounding the middle 

 meningeal artery. The ganglion also communicates with the auriculo-temporal 

 nerve. This is probably a branch from the glosso-pharyngeal which passes 

 to the ganglion, and through it and the auriculo-temporal nerve to the parotid 

 gland. The sphenoidal filament joins the Vidian nerve. 



Its branches of distribution are a filament to the Tensor tympani and one to the 

 Tensor palati. The former passes backward on the outer side of the Eustachian 

 tube ; the latter arises from the ganglion, near the origin of the internal pterygoid 

 nerve, and passes forward. The fibres of these nerves are, however, mainly derived 

 from the nerve to the Internal pterygoid muscle. It also gives off a small com- 

 municating branch to the chorda tympani and one to the buccal nerve (Rauber). 



Submaxillary Ganglion (Fig. 483). 



The submaxillary ganglion is of small size, fusiform in shape, and situated 

 above the deep portion of the submaxillary gland, near the posterior border of the 

 Mylo-hyoid muscle, being connected by filaments with the lower border of the 

 lingual (gustatory) nerve. 



Branches of Communication. This ganglion is connected with the lingual 

 (gustatory) nerve by a few filaments which join it separately at its fore and back 

 part. It also receives a branch from the chorda tympani, by which it communicates 

 with the facial, and communicates with the sympathetic by filaments from the 

 sympathetic plexus around the facial artery. 



Branches of Distribution. These are five or six in number: they arise from 

 the lower part of the ganglion, and supply the mucous membrane of the mouth and 



