_c._ =Nn. infraorbitales= (Fig. 154, _f_; Fig. 155, _l_).--The
infraorbital nerves are two of nearly equal size. They pass through the
orbit ventrad of the eyeball to the infraorbital canal. On their course
each divides once or twice and each divides again in the infraorbital
foramen, so that about eight branches emerge from the infraorbital
foramen and diverge to the integument and whiskers of the upper lip and
to the side and wing of the nose (Fig. 155, _l_). In the infraorbital
canal, and before reaching it, branches are given to the molar teeth,
and a branch continues in the bone to the canine, incisor, and premolar
teeth.
_d._ =N. sphenopalatinus= (Fig. 154, _g_).--The sphenopalatine nerve
turns mediad from the infraorbitals, directing its course toward the
sphenopalatine foramen. Before reaching this it gives off the =greater
palatine= nerve (=N. palatinus major=), which enters the posterior
palatine canal and passes to the hard palate. The sphenopalatine then
usually divides into two branches which pass along side by side to enter
the =sphenopalatine ganglion=. This is a large elongated triangular
ganglion lying on the dorsal surface of the external pterygoid muscle,
just laterad of the sphenopalatine foramen.
The following nerves are connected with the sphenopalatine ganglion:
_a._ =N. palatinus minor.=--This leaves the craniolateral angle of the
ganglion and passes to the soft palate.
_b._ =N. nasalis posterior.=--The posterior nasal nerve enters the nasal
cavity by the sphenopalatine foramen and is distributed to the mucosa of
the ventral and middle parts of the nasal cavity.
_c._ =N. canalis pterygoidii= (Vidian Nerve).--This is a large nerve
which leaves the caudal angle of the sphenopalatine ganglion and passes
caudad. It enters the orbital fissure, lying in a groove on its ventral
wall (the cranial end of this groove is sometimes converted into a
canal). The groove ends caudally in a foramen which pierces the sphenoid
bone between the wing and the body and lies just mediad of the foramen
rotundum. The groove and foramen constitute the pterygoid canal (from
which the nerve is named). After emerging from the pterygoid canal onto
the ventral surface of the basisphenoid the nerve enters the tympanic
bulla along with the Eustachian tube, lying on the medial side of the
latter. Just after entering, on reaching the internal carotid artery, it
divides into two. One of these, =N. petrosus superficialis major= (p.
375), passes into the hiatus facialis of the petrous bone and joins the
facial nerve. The other, =N. petrosus profundus=, accompanies the
internal carotid artery caudad, turning therefore out of the bulla and
passing caudad along its medial side; it finally joins the superior
cervical ganglion of the sympathetic system.
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