Salivatory nuclei
| Salivatory nuclei | |
|---|---|
 Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Nucleus salivatorius visible at upper left.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nucleī salivatorii |
| NeuroNames | 590 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The salivatory nuclei are pre-ganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the caudal pons representing the general visceral efferent (GVE) cranial nerve nuclei giving rise to axons which join (the intermediate nerve component of) the facial nerve (CN VII) and glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) to reach and innervate the salivary as well as lacrimal glands. The nuclei may also be involved in parasympathetic control of (extracranial and intracranial) head vasculature.[1]
Traditionally, they have been subdivided into a superior salivatory nucleus and inferior salivatory nucleus - whose axons join the CN VII and CN IX, respectively - however, their respective neurons do not actually form distinguishable structures.[1]
The pathways of salivary nuclei are:[1]
- Superior salivatory nucleus → intermediate nerve of facial nerve (CN VII) →
- greater petrosal nerve → nerve of pterygoid canal → pterygopalatine ganglion (synapse with post-ganglionic neurons) →
- → palatine nerves and nasal nerves → nasal, palatine, and pharyngeal mucosa
- → lacrimal gland
- → ethmoid vessels → choroid
- chorda tympani → lingual nerve → submandibular ganglion (synapse with post-ganglionic neurons) → submandibular, sublingual, and lingual glands
- greater petrosal nerve → nerve of pterygoid canal → pterygopalatine ganglion (synapse with post-ganglionic neurons) →
- Inferior salivatory nucleus → hypoglossal nerve (CN IX) → tympanic nerve → tympanic plexus → lesser petrosal nerve → otic ganglion (synapse with post-ganglionic neurons) → auriculotemporal nerve → parotid gland
Anatomy
The salivary nuclei are located in the pontine tegmentum.[2]
Afferents
The nucleus receives cortical stimuli from the nucleus of solitary tract via the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus and reflex connections.[3]
Additional images
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The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue. -
Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ a b c Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York: Elsevier. pp. 455, 550–551. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.
- ^ Gray, Henry (1918). Lewis, Warren H. (ed.). Gray's Anatomy (pdf) (20th ed.). Philadelphia PA: Lea & Febiger. ISBN 1-58734-102-6. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- ^ Waxman, Stephen G. (2009). Clinical Neuroanatomy (26th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-07-160399-7.
Bibliography
- Kiernan, John A. (2005). Barr's The Human Nervous System: An Anatomical Viewpoint. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 150. ISBN 0-7817-5154-3.
