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Otic Ganglion — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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HardAnatomy (Head & Neck)Otic GanglionMFDS Part 1

During an infratemporal fossa procedure, a small parasympathetic ganglion lying medial to the mandibular nerve immediately inferior to the foramen ovale is damaged. Its preganglionic fibres arrive through the lesser petrosal nerve, and its postganglionic fibres join the auriculotemporal nerve. Which salivary gland would be expected to show the greatest loss of parasympathetic secretomotor supply?

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Correct answer: B — Parotid gland

The ganglion described is the otic ganglion, so the correct answer is B, the parotid gland. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibres arise from the glossopharyngeal pathway, traverse the tympanic plexus and lesser petrosal nerve, and synapse in the otic ganglion. Postganglionic secretomotor fibres then hitch-hike on the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of V3, to reach the parotid. The submandibular and sublingual glands instead receive preganglionic fibres from the facial nerve through the chorda tympani and lingual nerve, with synapse in the submandibular ganglion. Minor salivary glands have region-dependent parasympathetic pathways, while von Ebner's glands are not the standard secretomotor target of the otic ganglion.

Reference: Zubair A, Khan YS. Neuroanatomy, Otic Ganglion. StatPearls, section: Structure and Function, 2023 update/2026 edition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32119300/