Structure and Development
- Neurons in the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve are pseudounipolar.
- The neurons provide sensory innervation through either the auricular or meningeal branch.
- The axons of these neurons synapse in the spinal trigeminal nucleus.
- The superior ganglion contains neurons that form two branches, the auricular and meningeal branch.
- Peripherally, the neurons innervate the concha of the auricle, the posteroinferior surface of the external auditory canal, and posteroinferior surface of the tympanic membrane.
- The neurons in the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve are embryonically derived from the neural crest.
- The neural crest can be seen in light green during embryonic development of the nervous system.

Function
- The superior ganglion contains neurons that innervate the concha of the auricle.
- Neurons in the superior ganglion innervate the posteroinferior surface of the external auditory canal.
- The posteroinferior surface of the tympanic membrane is innervated by neurons in the superior ganglion.
- Innervation of these structures is carried out via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
- Some of the dura mater lining the posterior cranial fossa is innervated by neurons in the superior ganglion through the meningeal branch of the vagus nerve.

Clinical significance
- Vagal neuralgia can cause pain in the external auditory canal (otalgia) due to vascular compression of the vagus nerve.
- The affected neurons in the superior ganglion innervate the ear via the auricular branch of the vagus nerve.
- Microvascular decompression of the vagus nerve is used to treat vagal neuralgia.
- Vagal neuralgia is often caused by compression from the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

References
- Rubin, Michael (2016). Netters Concise Neuroanatomy.
- Burt, Alvin M. (1993). Textbook of Neuroanatomy.
- Mercante B, Ginatempo F, Manca A, Melis F, Enrico P, Deriu F (June 2018). Anatomo-Physiologic Basis for Auricular Stimulation.
- Tekdemir I, Aslan A, Elhan A (1998). A clinico-anatomic study of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve and Arnolds ear-cough reflex.
- Watanabe, Kentaro; Tubbs, R. Shane; Satoh, Shunsuke; Zomorodi, Ali R.; Liedtke, Wolfgang; Labidi, Moujahed; Friedman, Allan H.; Fukushima, Takanori (December 2016). Isolated Deep Ear Canal Pain: Possible Role of Auricular Branch of Vagus Nerve-Case Illustrations with Cadaveric Correlation.

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