SECOND BRANCH OF THE FIFTH PAIR. 493 



them, called the Vidian Nerve, proceeds with a small artery to 

 the small foramen or Hiatus Fallopii, on the anterior side of the 

 petrous portion of the temporal bone, and continues, through a 

 small canal, to join the portio dura of the seventh pair in the 

 larger canal called the Aqueduct of Fallopius, at the first turn in 

 that canal.* The other branch of the pterygoid nerve proceeds 

 to the foramen caroticum, and passes through it, with a twig of the 

 sixth pair, to join the first cervical ganglion of the Intercostal Nerve. 



The Spheno-Palatine, or Lateral Nasal Nerves, consist of 

 several branches which pass from the spheno-palatine ganglion 

 through the spheno-palatine foramen into the nose. Some of 

 them are distributed to that part of the pituitary membrane, 

 which is above the upper meatus, and others to the part which 

 is immediately below it. Some of the branches which thus 

 enter the nose are spread upon the septum ; one among them 

 extends upon it, downwards and forwards, to the anterior part 

 of the palatine process of the upper maxillary bone, where it 

 enters into the foramen incisivum, and terminates in the lining 

 membrane of the roof of the mouth .f The naso-palatine 

 ganglion, or ganglion of Cloquet is formed on this branch while 

 in the foramen. 



The Palatine Branch proceeds through the canal formed by 

 the upper maxillary and palate bones, to the roof of the mouth 

 and soft palate. Soon after its origin, it sends off a twig which 

 proceeds down a small canal that is behind it. It also sends 

 off, as it proceeds downwards, several twigs to that part of the 

 membrane of the nose which covers the inferior turbinated 

 bone. When it arrives at the roof of the mouth, it divides into 

 several branches which run forwards, and are distributed to 

 the membrane which lines the roof of the mouth. Some of its 

 branches pass to the soft palate, the uvula, and the tonsils: 

 small filaments pass into the back part of the upper jaw. 



* The late Mr. John Hunter believed that this nerve parts from the portio 

 dura at the lower end of the aqueduct, and is the chorda tympani. 



f The curious distribution of this nerve appears to have been known to the 

 late John Hunter, and also to Cotunnius ; it is minutely described by Scarpa. 

 and is delineated by Soemmering in his plate of the nose. See " Observations 

 on certain parts of the Animal Economy," by J. Hunter, p. 219, and also 

 Scarpa, " De Organo Olfactus." In this last are some interesting observations- 

 relative to the ducts of Steno. 



VOL. ii. 42 



