Tympanic plexus

Tympanic plexus
	View of the inner wall of the tympanum. (Grooves for tympanic plexus labeled at center.)
	Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves. (Tympanic plexus labeled at center.)
Details
From	caroticotympanic nerves, tympanic nerve
Identifiers
Latin	plexus tympanicus
TA	A14.2.01.140
FMA	77533
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

In the tympanic cavity, the tympanic nerve (a branch of CN IX) divides into branches which, along with sympathetic fibres from the carotid plexus, form the tympanic plexus. This plexus is located on the surface of the promontory.

This tympanic plexus gives off:

(1) the lesser petrosal nerve
(2) the Deep branch (small deep petrosal nerve) to join the greater petrosal nerve
(3) branches to the tympanic cavity

The branches of the tympanic cavity provide innervation to the mucosa of the middle ear. The lesser petrosal nerve provides autonomic parasympathetic fibers that eventually innervate the parotid gland.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 909 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

cranialnerves at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (IX)
lesson3 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)

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