CN IX: Glossopharyngeal
On this page:Glossopharyngeal Nerve PalsyMotor PathwayParasympathetic PathwayVisceral Sensory PathwayGeneral Sensory PathwaySpecial Sensory Pathway
Overview
- Roles
- Special sensory (taste) - posterior 1/3 of tongue
- Visceral sensory - carotid sinus baroreceptors, carotid body chemoreceptors
- Somatic sensory - external ear, internal tympanic membrane, upper pharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue
- Somatic motor - stylopharyngeus
- Visceral motor (parasympathetic) - parotid gland
Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy
- Abnormalities
- Loss of pharyngeal sensation / gag reflex
- Loss of taste of posterior 1/3 of tongue
- Xerostomia (dry mouth)
- Causes fo Glossopharyngeal Nerve Palsy
- Tumour
- Infarction
- Base of skull fractureInvolving the jugular foramen
- Diptheria
Motor Pathway
Cortical Centre
Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
Primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus)
 Nucleus Ambiguus
Medulla
Medulla
Foramen 
Jugular foramen
Jugular foramen
 Ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Division
Stylopharyngeal branch
Stylopharyngeal branch
 Muscles
Stylopharyngeus
Stylopharyngeus
Parasympathetic Pathway
 Hypothalamus
 Inferior Salivatory Nucleus
Medulla
Medulla
Foramen 
Jugular foramen
Jugular foramen
Superior (jugular) and 
inferior (petrous) ganglia
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Tympanic Nerve
Tympanic Plexus
Lesser petrosal nerve
Otic ganglion
 Parotid Gland 
Visceral Sensory Pathway
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Centres 
Reticular formation and hypothalamus
Reticular formation and hypothalamus
Solitary Nucleus 
Medulla
Medulla
Foramen 
Jugular foramen
Jugular foramen
Ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Nerve to sinus
Receptors 
Carotid sinus baroreceptors, carotid body chemoreceptors
Carotid sinus baroreceptors, carotid body chemoreceptors
General Sensory Pathway
Cortical Centre 
Primary sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)
Primary sensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)
Sensory Nucleus 
Medulla
Medulla
Foramen 
Jugular foramen
Jugular foramen
Ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Pharyngeal branch
Receptors 
External ear, internal tympanic membrane, upper pharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue
External ear, internal tympanic membrane, upper pharynx, posterior 1/3 of tongue
Special Sensory Pathway
Gustatory Cortex 
Insula
Insula
Thalamus
Sensory Nucleus 
Medulla
Medulla
Foramen 
Jugular foramen
Jugular foramen
Ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Superior (jugular) and
inferior (petrous) ganglia
Lingual branch
Taste Receptors 
Posterior 1/3 of tongue
Posterior 1/3 of tongue
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