Gasserian Ganglion

GASSERIAN GANGLION (ganglion Gasseri s. g. semilunare), gives rise to the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve; it is located on the dorsal surface of the petrous part of the temporal bone, in a niche formed by the bifurcation of the dura mater (cavum Meckeli); on the bone there is a small depression at this place-impressio trigemini; the concave edge of the ganglion is directed backward, the convex-forward. In the G. g. there is a large number of round cells, covered by a sheath formed from neuroglial cells, which directly passes into the Schwann sheath of the nerve fiber. Most cells of the G. g. belong to pseudounipolar, provided with only one process, which divides T-shaped; in some cells before division this process is very tortuous and forms a true glomerulus-initialis, in others the process is straight; there are also multipolar cells with pointed processes; some processes do not extend beyond the limits of the ganglion. The peripheral processes of the cells form three large branches: n. ophthalmicus (ophthalmic nerve), n. maxillaris (maxillary) and n. mandibularis (mandibular); these three branches emerge from the convex edge of the ganglion (see figure). The central process forms the root of the trigeminal nerve, very large, consisting of 50 bundles, entering together with the motor root into the Varolius bridge (peripheral branching, central course of fibers and led to the "right ganglion of Gasser (according to Spalteholz): 1-n. opticus; a-art. carotis int.; 3-n. oculomotorius; 4-n. trochlearis; 5-n. abducens; 6-n. trigeminus; 7-n. facialis and acusticus; 8-n. ophthalmicus; 9-n. maxillaris; 10-n. mandibularis; 11-ganglion Gasseri."

see Trigeminus nervus; on changes in the ganglion of Gasser in rabies-see Rabies). Lit.-see Trigeminus nervus.