New research 830: Functional anatomy of the PPG

[quote]Surg Neurol Int. 2013 Nov 20;4(Suppl 6):S422-8. doi: 10.4103/2152-

7806.121628. eCollection 2013.

[b]Clinical functional anatomy of the pterygopalatine ganglion, cephalgia and related dysautonomias: A review.[/b]

Khonsary SA1, Ma Q1, Villablanca P2, Emerson J1, Malkasian D1.

Author information 1Department of Neurosurgery, Skull Base Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.2Department of Radiological Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to explain the anatomy of the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG), its location in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) in the skull, and the relationship it has to the Vidian nerve terminal branches and the fifth cranial nerve. An overview of the neuro-anatomical/clinical correlations, a spectrum of pathologies affecting the seventh cranial nerve and some therapies both medical and surgical are noted. The focus is the pterygopalatine region with discussion of the proximal courses of the seventh and fifth cranial nerves and their pathological processes. The ganglion is used as an example of neuro-anatomical model for explaining cluster headaches (CH). Radiological correlation is included to clarify the location of the PPF and its clinical importance. [/quote]

ATB

P.