Salivatory nuclei
The salivatory nuclei are two parasympathetic general visceral efferent cranial nerve nuclei - the superior salivatory nucleus and the inferior salivatory nucleus - that innervate the salivary glands. Both are located in the pontine tegmentum of the brainstem.[1]
| Salivatory nuclei | |
|---|---|
 Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Nucleus salivatorius visible at upper left.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | nuclei salivatorii |
| NeuroNames | 590 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The superior salivatory nucleus is a nucleus of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). It innervates the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands (as well as a number of other glands of the head). Its fibres synapse at the pterygopalatine ganglion, and submandibular ganglion.
The inferior salivatory nucleus is a nucleus of the glossopharyngeal nerve (cranial nerve IX). It innervates the parotid gland. Its fibres synapse at the otic ganglion.
Superior salivatory nucleus
The superior salivatory nucleus (or nucleus salivatorius superior) is a visceral motor cranial nerve nucleus of the facial nerve (CN VII). It is located in the pontine tegmentum. It projects pre-ganglionic visceral motor parasympathetic efferents (via CN VII) to the pterygopalatine ganglion, and submandibular ganglion.[2]
The term "lacrimal nucleus" is sometimes used to refer to a portion of the superior salivatory nucleus.[3]
Efferents
Preganglionic fibers en route to the pterygopalatine ganglion (destined to ultimately innervate the lacrimal gland and the mucosal glands of the nose, palate, and pharynx) subsequently form the greater petrosal nerve, whereas those en route to the submandibular ganglion (destined to ultimately innervate the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands) subsequently form the chorda tympani.
Afferents
The nucleus receives cortical stimuli from the nucleus of solitary tract via the dorsal longitudinal fasciculus and reflex connections.[2]
Inferior salivatory nucleus
The inferior salivatory nucleus (or nucleus salivatorius inferior) is a cluster of neurons in the pontine tegmentum (i.e. dorsal part of the pons), just superior to its junction with the medulla. It is the general visceral efferent (GVE) component of the glossopharyngeal nerve supplying the parasympathetic input to the parotid gland for salivation.
It lies immediately caudal to the superior salivatory nucleus and just above the upper end of the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve in the medulla.
The preganglionic parasympathetic fibres originate in the inferior salivatory nucleus of the glossopharyngeal nerve. They leave the glossopharyngeal nerve by its tympanic branch and then pass via the tympanic plexus and the lesser petrosal nerve to the otic ganglion. Here, the fibres synapse, and the postganglionic fibers pass by communicating branches to the auriculotemporal nerve, which conveys them to the parotid gland. They produce vasodilator and secretomotor effects.
Function
Parasympathetic input from fibers of the inferior salivatory nucleus stimulates the parotid gland to produce vasodilation and secrete saliva.
Additional images
The cranial nerve nuclei schematically represented; dorsal view. Motor nuclei in red; sensory in blue.
Nuclei of origin of cranial motor nerves schematically represented; lateral view.
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- Gray, Henry (1918). Lewis, Warren H. (ed.). Gray's Anatomy (pdf) (20th ed.). Philadelphia PA: Lea & Febiger. ISBN 1-58734-102-6. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
- Waxman, Stephen G. (2009). Clinical Neuroanatomy (26th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-07-160399-7.
- ancil-329 at NeuroNames
Bibliography
- Kiernan, John A. (2005). Barr's The Human Nervous System: An Anatomical Viewpoint. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 150. ISBN 0-7817-5154-3.
