CHAP. XXI.] THE OTIC GANGLION. 135 



the hard palate. Thirdly, the vidian nerve, which coming off from 

 the posterior part of the ganglion, passes through the vidian canal, 

 and divides into two branches, the superior, or the great superficial 

 petrosal nerve, which enters the cranium, and under cover of the 

 dura mater passes through the hiatus Fallopii, to unite itself with 

 the geniculate swelling of the portio dura; * and the inferior, or 

 carotid branchy which enters the plexus around the carotid 

 artery, and thus forms the bond of union between the spheno- 

 palatine and the superior cervical ganglion; this latter branch 

 is much the larger. Arnold states that this ganglion is con- 

 nected with the optic nerve, and also with the ophthalmic gan- 

 glion. 



The otic ganglion. This ganglion, discovered and described by 

 Arnold, lies at the inner and inferior part of the inferior maxillary 

 division of the fifth nerve, just at its exit from the foramen ovale. 

 It is connected with this nerve by two filaments, which Arnold 

 considers to be derived from the fibres of the lesser portion of the 

 fifth nerve. Besides branches to the internal pterygoid, and the 

 tensor palati muscles, it sends a filament into the cranium which 

 passes through the hiatus Fallopii into the cavity of the tympanum, 

 and there anastomoses with the tympanic branch of the glosso-pha- 

 ryngeal. This is the lesser superficial petrosal nerve, which Arnold 

 regards as an emanation from the glosso-pharyngeal, and as a root 

 for the ganglion, analogous to the long root of the ophthalmic gan- 

 glion. The precise connexion of this ganglion with the sympathetic 

 has not been clearly made out. It contains numerous gelatinous 

 as well as tubular fibres, and its vesicles are large and distinct. 



The submaxillary ganglion. This ganglion is occasionally replaced 

 by a plexus of nerves. One or two fibres from the gustatory nerve 

 constitute its roots, and its principal ramifications are distributed 

 to the submaxillary gland. It is connected with the superior cer- 

 vical ganglion through the cavernous plexus. 



2. Of the Cervical Portion of the Sympathetic. This consists of three 

 ganglia on each side, the middle of which is by no means constant. 

 The superior is the largest, and extends from within an inch of the 

 inferior orifice of the carotid canal, to the third cervical vertebra, and 

 sometimes as low as the fourth or fifth. It is connected by large 

 branches with the first, second, and third cervical nerves; from its 

 upper extremity there passes upwards into the carotid canal a branch 

 which divides into two that accompany the carotid artery, dividing 



* It is probably from this source that this swelling receives the many gelatin- 

 ous fibres already described. 



