Anatomy and Structure
- Trigeminal ganglion contains cell bodies of sensory neurons of trigeminal nerve
- Axons extend into three divisions of trigeminal nerve and brainstem
- Situated within trigeminal cave (Meckels cave)
- Trigeminal root extends from ganglion to pons
- Ganglion receives filaments from carotid plexus and issues branches to tentorium cerebelli and dura mater
- Trigeminal ganglion is crescent-shaped with convex border
- Ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves arise from convex border
- Ganglion has medial relation to internal carotid artery and cavernous sinus
- Motor root of trigeminal nerve passes beneath ganglion
- Greater petrosal nerve passes underneath ganglion to reach foramen lacerum

Relations
- Internal carotid artery and posterior part of cavernous sinus are medial to ganglion
- Motor root of trigeminal nerve passes beneath ganglion
- Greater petrosal nerve passes underneath ganglion to reach foramen lacerum

Clinical significance
- Herpes virus lies dormant in trigeminal ganglion after primary infection
- Damage to ganglion can cause trigeminal trophic syndrome with paresthesias and anesthesia
- Ablation of trigeminal ganglion can be used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

Other animals
- Trigeminal ganglion is important in rodents for pathway from whiskers to brain
- Cell bodies of whisker primary afferents are found in ganglion
- Ganglion projects to trigeminal brain stem areas in rodents
- Rodent trigeminal ganglion has around 26,000-43,000 cell bodies
- Two distinct populations of cells with different responses to stimuli may exist in ganglion

Noteworthy details
- Ganglion receives filaments from carotid plexus and issues branches to tentorium cerebelli and dura mater
- Ganglion has medial relation to internal carotid artery and cavernous sinus
- Motor root of trigeminal nerve passes beneath ganglion
- Greater petrosal nerve passes underneath ganglion to reach foramen lacerum

Trigeminal ganglion (Wikipedia)

The trigeminal ganglion (also known as: Gasserian ganglion, semilunar ganglion, or Gasser's ganglion) is the sensory ganglion of each trigeminal nerve (CN V). The trigeminal ganglion is located within the trigeminal cave (Meckel's cave), a cavity formed by dura mater.

Trigeminal ganglion
Nerves of the orbit. Seen from above. (Semilunar ganglion visible near bottom.)
Distribution of the maxillary and mandibular nerves, and the submaxillary ganglion. (Semilunar ganglion visible in upper left.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ganglion trigeminale, ganglion semilunare (Gasseri)
MeSH	D012668
TA98	A14.2.01.014
TA2	6194
FMA	52618
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy [edit on Wikidata]