604 



THE CRANIAL NERVES. 



the upper two spongy bones, and in that lining the posterior ethmoid cells. A 

 branch, as has been already stated, forms a connection in the wall of the maxillary 

 sinus, above the eye-tooth, with the anterior dental nerve. 



The naso-palatine nerve, nerve of Cotunnius (Scarpa), long and slender, leaves the 

 inner side of the ganglion with the preceding branches, and after crossing the roof of 

 the nasal fossa is directed downwards and forwards on the septum nasi, towards the 

 anterior palatine canal, situated between the periosteum and the pituitary membrane. 

 The nerves of opposite sides descend to the palate through the mesial subdivisions of 

 the canal, called the foramina of Scarpa, the nerve of the right side usually behind 

 that of the left. In the lower common foramen the two naso-palatine nerves are 

 connected with each other ; and they end in several filaments, which are distributed 

 to the papilla behind the incisor teeth, and communicate with the great palatine 

 nerve. In its course along the septum, small filaments are furnished from the naso- 

 palatine nerve to the pituitary membrane. (See Fig 402. This nerve was discovered 

 independently by John Hunter and Cotunnius ; see Hunter's " Observations on 

 certain parts of the Animal Economy;" and Scarpa, "Annotationes Anatomicse," 

 lib. ii.) 



Fig. 408. 



Fig. 408. NEIIVKS OP THE NOSE AND OF THE SPHENO-PALATINE GANGLION FROM THR 

 INNER SIDE (from Sappey after Hirschftld and Leveille). f 



1, network of the branches of the olfactory nerve descending upon the membrane 

 covering the superior and middle turbinated bones ; 2, external twig of the ethinoidal branch 

 of the nasal nerve ; 3, spheno-palatine ganglion ; 4, ramification of the anterior division 

 of the palatine nerves ; 5, posterior, and 6, middle divisions of the palatine nerves; 7, 

 branch to the membrane on the lower turbinated bone ; 8, branch to the superior and 

 middle turbinated bones ; 9, naso-palatine branch to the septum cut short ; 10, Vidian 

 nerve ; 11, its great superficial petrosal branch; 12, its carotid branch; 13, the sympa- 

 thetic nerves ascending on the internal carotid artery. 



POSTERIOR BRANCHES. The brandies directed backwards from the splieno- 

 palatine ganglion are the Vidian aud pharyngeal nerves. 



The Vidian nerve arises from the back part of the ganglion, which seems to be pro- 

 longed into it, passes backwards through the Vidian canal, and after emerging from 

 this divides in the substance of the fibro-cartilage filling the foramen lacerum 

 medium, into two branches : one of these, the superficial petrosal, joins the facial 

 nerve, while the other, the carotid branch, communicates with the sympathetic. 

 Whilst the Vidian nerve is in its canal, it gives inwards some small nasal branches, 

 which supply the membrane of the back part of the roof of the nose and septum, as 

 well as the membrane covering the end of the Eustachian. tube. 



