SUBMAXILLARY REGION 199 



other cases it may assume a ruddy hue and contain muscular 

 fibres. 



OTIC GANGLION AND TENSOR VELI PALATINI. 



During the dissection of the submaxillary region the 

 dissector noted a nerve ganglion, the submaxillary ganglion, 

 connected with the lingual branch of the mandibular nerve ; 

 and, when he was examining the infratemporal region, refer- 

 ence was made to the otic ganglion, which is associated 

 with the trunk of the mandibular nerve and the branch which 

 it supplies to the internal pterygoid muscle. The otic 

 ganglion and its connections should now be displayed, and 

 afterwards the tensor veli palatini muscle should be cleaned 

 and followed from its origin downwards to the hamulus of the 

 medial pterygoid lamina. 



Dissection. Cut the lingual and inferior alveolar nerves 

 immediately below their origins ; evert the upper part of the 

 mandibular nerve, and define the otic ganglion ; then divide 

 the internal pterygoid, along the posterior border of the lateral 

 pterygoid lamina ; depress the lower part of the muscle and 

 clean the tensor veli palatini, which lies medial to the middle 

 meningeal artery, the otic ganglion and the mandibular nerve, 

 and separates them from the lateral surface of the auditory tube. 



Ganglion Oticum. The otic ganglion is a minute, oval 

 body, not easily found. It lies immediately below the 

 foramen ovale, between the mandibular nerve laterally, the 

 tensor veli palatini medially, and the middle meningeal artery 

 posteriorly ; it is intimately associated with the origin of the 

 nerve to the internal pterygoid (Fig. 66). 



The otic ganglion is usually described as receiving motor, sensory, and 

 sympathetic roots. The motor root is supplied by the nerve to the internal 

 pterygoid muscle ; the sympathetic root comes from the plexus around the 

 middle meningeal artery. In addition to those roots, the lesser superficial 

 petrosal nerve enters the posterior border of the ganglion, and conveys 

 sensory fibres to it. 



The following are the branches which proceed from the otic ganglion : 



C A twig which passes downwards and forwards to the 

 Branches of I tensor veli palatini. (O.T. Tensor palati.) 

 distribution. | A twig which proceeds upwards and backwards to 



^ supply the tensor tympani. 



( One or more fine filaments to one or both of the roots 

 Connecting J of the auriculo-temporal nerve, 

 branches. 1 A minute communicating r filfftiJeYil ; 'rt$ ' the chorda 



^ tympani. 

 m 13 b 



