Structure and Location of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion
- The pterygopalatine ganglion is located in the pterygopalatine fossa.
- It is triangular or heart-shaped and has a reddish-gray color.
- The ganglion is situated below the maxillary nerve as it crosses the fossa.
- It supplies the lacrimal gland, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity and pharynx mucosa glands, gingiva, and the hard palate.
- It communicates anteriorly with the nasopalatine nerve.

Roots of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion
- The pterygopalatine ganglion has a sensory, parasympathetic, and sympathetic root.
- The sensory root is derived from two sphenopalatine branches of the maxillary nerve.
- The parasympathetic root is derived from the nervus intermedius through the greater petrosal nerve.
- The sympathetic root consists of fibers from the superior cervical ganglion.

Sensory Root of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion
- The sensory root of the pterygopalatine ganglion comes from the sphenopalatine branches of the maxillary nerve.
- Most of the fibers pass directly into the palatine nerves.
- Some fibers enter the ganglion, forming its sensory root.

Parasympathetic Root of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion
- The parasympathetic root of the pterygopalatine ganglion comes from the nervus intermedius through the greater petrosal nerve.
- In the ganglion, preganglionic parasympathetic fibers synapse with neurons.
- Postganglionic axons project to various areas, including the lacrimal glands and nasal mucosa.

Sympathetic Root of the Pterygopalatine Ganglion
- The pterygopalatine ganglion receives sympathetic efferent fibers from the superior cervical ganglion.
- These fibers travel through the carotid plexus and the deep petrosal nerve.
- The deep petrosal nerve joins with the greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal.
- Fibers from the stellate ganglion pass through the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion and into the pterygopalatine ganglion.