Intermediate nerve

The intermediate nerve, nervus intermedius, nerve of Wrisberg or Glossopalatine nerve,[1][2][3] is the part of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) located between the motor component of the facial nerve and the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII). It contains the sensory and parasympathetic fibers of the facial nerve. Upon reaching the facial canal, it joins with the motor root of the facial nerve at the geniculate ganglion. Alex Alfieri postulates that the intermediate nerve should be considered as a separate cranial nerve and not a part of the facial nerve.[4]

Intermediate nerve
Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (N. intermedius labeled at upper left.)
Details
Identifiers
LatinNervus intermedius
TA98A14.2.01.115
TA26286
FMA53410
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

Parasympathetic fibers

The superior salivatory nucleus contains the cell bodies of parasympathetic axons within the intermediate nerve. These fibers reach the geniculate ganglion but do not synapse. Some of these preganglionic parasympathetic fibers persist within the greater petrosal nerve as they exit the geniculate ganglion and subsequently synapse with neurons in the pterygopalatine ganglion. These postganglionic neurons send axons that provide parasympathetic innervation to the lacrimal gland via a communicating branch from the zygomatic nerve to the lacrimal nerve of cranial nerve V.

The remaining preganglionic fibers continue as the mixed facial nerve proper as it extends through the facial canal. Before the nerve exits the skull via the stylomastoid foramen and after the nerve to the stapedius muscle has branched off, the facial nerve gives off the chorda tympani nerve. This nerve exits the skull through the Petrotympanic fissure and merges with the lingual nerve, after which it synapses with neurons in the submandibular ganglion. These postganglionic neurons provide parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular and sublingual glands.

Sensory fibers

The sensory component of the intermediate nerve carries input about sensation from the skin of the external auditory meatus, from the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and nose, and taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and the soft palate. The sensory information from the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and palate is carried along the greater petrosal nerve, while the chorda tympani nerve (and lingual nerve) carries taste input from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, floor of mouth, and soft palate.

The geniculate ganglion contains the cell bodies of the sensory component of the nervus intermedius. Nervus intermedius neuralgia is a pain syndrome associated with the nervus intermedius.

References
  1. Chern, Kenneth C.; Wright, Kenneth Weston (2004-01-01). Review Questions in Ophthalmology: A Question and Answer Book. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781752039.
  2. M.D, Parviz Janfaza (2011-06-15). Surgical Anatomy of the Head and Neck. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674417830.
  3. Hewer, E. E.; Sandes, G. M. (2013-10-22). An Introduction to the Study of the Nervous System. Elsevier. ISBN 9781483195193.
  4. Alfieri, Alex. (2012). Der Nervus Intermedius Ein eigenständiger Hirnnerv? (1. Aufl ed.). Saarbrücken: Südwestdeutscher Verlag für Hochschulschriften. ISBN 9783838110714. OCLC 864033849.
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