Quick Facts
Origin: Internal carotid nerve.
Course: Travels superiorly along the surface of the internal carotid artery.
Branches: Deep petrosal nerve.
Supply: Sympathetic efferent fibers to the glands and mucosa of the head.
Origin
The internal carotid plexus is formed by the internal carotid nerve, which originates in the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic trunk.
Course
As the internal carotid artery ascends through the neck and head, the sympathetic fibers forming the plexus follow it, traveling on the surface of the internal carotid artery.
Branches
The internal carotid plexus gives off one named branch and many other unnamed fibers. The named branch is the deep petrosal nerve, which splits from the plexus when the internal carotid artery passes by the foramen lacerum.
As the internal carotid artery gives off additional arterial branches, sympathetic fibers travel with the arteries to reach targets throughout the head.
Supplied Structures
The internal carotid plexus supplies sympathetic efferent innervation to the glands and mucosal linings of the head and face.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Horner’s syndrome
—Anhidrosis
—Myosis
—Ptosis
