Path
It arises from the petrous ganglion, and ascends to the tympanic cavity through a small canal, the fossula petrosa/tympanic canaliculus, on the under surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone on the ridge which separates the carotid canal from the jugular fossa.
In the tympanic cavity it divides into branches which form the tympanic plexus and are contained in grooves upon the surface of the promontory.
Jacobson's nerve contains both sensory and secretory fibers.
- Sensory fibers supply the middle ear.
- Parasympathetic secretory fibers continue as the Lesser Petrosal nerve and provide secretomotor innervation to the parotid gland. The secretory fibers enter the otic ganglion.
- Sympathetic fibers (for the large deep petrosal nerve) through communication with the carotid plexus
The postganglionic parasympathetic fibers are then distributed via the auriculotemporal nerve (branch of the trigeminal nerve) to the parotid gland.
Read more about this topic: Tympanic Nerve
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