Nerves of Nasal Cavity Anatomy
1. Olfactory bulb
2. Lateral internal nasal branch of
anterior ethmoidal nerve (CN V1)
3. Palatine nerves (CN V2) (Greater
palatine nerve; Lesser palatine nerve)
4. Nasopalatine nerve (CN V2)
5. Nerve (vidian) of pterygoid canal
6. Deep petrosal nerve
7. Greater petrosal nerve
8. Pterygopalatine ganglion
Comment: Vessels of the nasal cavity receive innervation
from sympathetic and, to a lesser extent, parasympathetic divisions of the
autonomic nervous system.
Sympathetic contributions arise in the
deep petrosal nerve as postganglionic fibers that are largely vasomotor in
function.
Parasympathetic fibers arise in the
facial nerve as preganglionics, course to the pterygopalatine ganglion in the
greater petrosal and vidian nerves, and synapse in the pterygopalatine
ganglion.
Postganglionic fibers pass to the nasal
mucosa, the hard and soft palates, and the mucosa of the
paranasal sinuses.
Clinical: Facial fractures may involve a fracture of the
cribriform plate, which transmits the axons of the olfactory bipolar neurons.
As a brain tract, CN I is covered by the 3 meningeal layers and contains
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in its subarachnoid space around the olfactory bulb.
A tear of the meninges can cause a leakage of CSF into the nasal cavity and
provide a route of infection from the nose to the
brain.
