Quick Facts
Location: The otic ganglion sits just inferior to the foramen ovale, close to the mandibular nerve.
Branches: The otic ganglion receives fibers from the lesser petrosal nerve and sends fibers out to the auriculotemporal nerve
Supply: Parasympathetic. The otic ganglion sends postganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the parotid gland.
Location
The otic ganglion is a collection of postganglionic neuronal cell bodies that sits just inferior and extracranially relative to the foramen ovale. It is in close proximity to the mandibular nerve trunk as it emerges from the foramen ovale. The otic ganglion develops from cranial neural crest cells.
Branches
The otic ganglion receives preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the lesser petrosal nerve. These primarily come from the glossopharyngeal nerve, although small contributions from the facial nerve and vagus nerve have been noted. The postganglionic fibers leaving the otic ganglion join up with the auriculotemporal nerve.
Supplied Structures
The fibers of the otic ganglion target the parotid gland.
