Parasympathetic ganglion

Parasympathetic ganglia are the autonomic ganglia of the parasympathetic nervous system. Most are small terminal ganglia or intramural ganglia, so named because they lie near or within (respectively) the organs they innervate. The exceptions are the four paired parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck.

Parasympathetic ganglion
Autonomic nervous system innervation, showing the sympathetic and parasympathetic (craniosacral) systems, in red and blue, respectively
Details
Identifiers
Latinganglion parasympathicum
MeSHD005726
TAA14.2.00.012
FMA5894
Anatomical terminology

Of the head and neck

These paired ganglia supply all parasympathetic innervation to the head and neck.

Roots

Each has three roots entering the ganglion and a variable number of exiting branches.

  • The motor root carries presynaptic parasympathetic nerve fibers (GVE) that terminate in the ganglion and synapse with the postsynaptic fibers that, in turn, project to target organs.
  • The sympathetic root carries postsynaptic sympathetic fibers (GVE) that traverse the ganglion without synapsing.
  • The sensory root carries general sensory fibers (GSA) that also do not synapse in the ganglion.

Some ganglia also carry special sensory fibers (SVA) for taste sensation.

Nerves supplying parasympathetic fibers
Parasympathetic ganglia of the head
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