Superior Salivatory Nucleus
- Located in the pontine tegmentum
- Visceral motor cranial nerve nucleus of the facial nerve (CN VII)
- Projects pre-ganglionic visceral motor parasympathetic efferents to the pterygopalatine ganglion and submandibular ganglion
- Sometimes referred to as the lacrimal nucleus
Efferents from Superior Salivatory Nucleus
- Preganglionic fibers destined to innervate the lacrimal gland and mucosal glands of the nose, palate, and pharynx form the greater petrosal nerve
- Preganglionic fibers destined to innervate the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands form the chorda tympani
Afferents to Superior Salivatory Nucleus
- Receives cortical stimuli from the nucleus of solitary tract via the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus
- Has reflex connections
Inferior Salivatory Nucleus
- Cluster of neurons in the medulla
- General visceral efferent (GVE) component of the glossopharyngeal nerve
- Supplies parasympathetic input to the parotid gland for salivation
- Located caudal to the superior salivatory nucleus and above the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve in the medulla
- Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers originate in the inferior salivatory nucleus and pass through the tympanic branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve to reach the otic ganglion
Function of Inferior Salivatory Nucleus
- Parasympathetic input from the inferior salivatory nucleus stimulates the parotid gland to produce vasodilation and secrete saliva
The salivatory nuclei are two parasympathetic general visceral efferent cranial nerve nuclei[citation needed] - the superior salivatory nucleus and the inferior salivatory nucleus - that innervate the salivary glands. Both are located in the pontine tegmentum of the brainstem.
| 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 superior salivatory nucleus is a nucleus of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). It innervates the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands (as well as a number of other glands of the head). Its fibres synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion, and submandibular ganglion.
The inferior salivatory nucleus is a nucleus of the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX). It innervates the parotid gland. Its fibres synapse at the otic ganglion.
