Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy
The parasympathetic division of the glossopharyngeal nerve begins at the inferior salivatory nucleus in the upper medulla. The nucleus receives input from the hypothalamus and the reticular formation.
Preganglionic nerve fibres leave this site and pass via the jugular foramen with the motor component of IX. The fibres then pass into the middle ear through a fissure in the temporal bone, join a tympanic plexus of sensory fibres, and then pass on with a branch of the facial nerve as the lesser petrosal nerve. The lesser petrosal nerve exits the skull via the foramen ovale before descending into the infratemporal fossa and then synapsing with the otic ganglion.
The postganglionic fibres from the otic ganglion innervate the parotid gland.
Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.