THE CRANIAL XERVES. 



475 



FIG. 126. 



it communicates with other nerves or with ganglia of the sympathetic 

 system. The physiological character of most of these filaments is im- 

 perfectly understood ; but 

 they are of interest from 

 being usually involved in 

 injury of the nerve within 

 its bony canal, thus pro- 

 ducing secondary symp- 

 toms, in addition to those 

 of facial paralysis. 



At the elbow formed by 

 the anterior bend of the 

 facial nerve, soon after its 

 entrance into the aqueduct 

 of Fallopius, there is a 

 small collection of gray 

 substance, known as the 

 " ganglion geniculatum." 

 From this ganglion a slen- 

 der filament, the great su- 

 perficial peirosal nerve 

 (Fig. 126, 9 ), runs obliquely 

 forward through the base 

 of the skull, and terminates 

 in the sphenopalatine gan- 

 glion ( 5 ). This ganglion, which is also connected with the superior 

 maxillary division of the fifth nerve ( 3 ), sends branches to the mucous 

 membrane of the posterior part of the nasal passages and the hard and 

 soft palate, and to the levator palati and uvular muscles ; that is, to 

 the dilators of the isthmus of the fauces. 



This filament of communication between the facial nerve and the 

 sphenopalatine ganglion, is no doubt the motor root of the ganglion, 

 supplying motive force for its muscular branches. Such an inference 

 seems justified by the affection of the palatal muscles accompanying 

 certain cases of facial paralysis from deep-seated lesions. It consists in 

 an incapacity to lift the soft palate, which hangs passively downward, 

 and in a lateral deviation of the uvula, which, according to Longet, is 

 always toward the sound side. The levator palati and uvular muscles 

 being paralyzed, the uvula is drawn into an oblique position toward 

 the non-paralyzed side. As there is no other communication between 

 the facial nerve and the palatal muscles than that through the spheno- 

 palatine ganglion by the great superficial petrosal nerve, the latter 

 must be regarded as containing motor fibres running from the facial 

 to the ganglion. 



A little below the last-mentioned filament, the facial nerve gives off 

 a second, the small superficial petrosal nerve ( 10 ), which communicates 

 both with the otic ganglion and with the plexus on the inner wall of 



THE FACIAL NERVE AND ITS COSXECTIOXS, within the 

 aqueduct of Fallopius. 1. Fifth nerve, with the Gas- 

 serian ganglion. 2. Ophthalmic division of the fifth 

 nerve. 3. Superior maxillary division of the fifth nerve. 

 4. Lingual nerve. 5. Sphenopalatine ganglion. 6. Otic 

 ganglion. 7. Submaxillary ganglion. 8. Facial nerve in 

 the aqueduct of Fallopius. 9. Great superficial petrosal 

 nerve. 10. Small superficial petrosal nerve. 11. Stape- 

 dius branch of facial nerve. 12. Branch of communica- 

 tion with pneumogastric nerve. 13. Branch of communi- 

 cation with glossopharyngeal nerve. 14. Chorda tympani. 



