superior salivary nucleus

Introduction

Structyre:

• a group of preganglionic parasympathetic motor neurons located medial to the nucleus solitarius, rostral & lateral to the inferior salivary nucleus.
• cell bodies of the inferior & superior salivary nuclei are scattered & overlappingin regions of the lateral reticular formation.

Efferents

• its axons leave the brainstem with the facial nerve (CN VII) & synapse in the sphenopalatine ganglon & submandibular ganglion
• fibers originating in the superior salivary nucleus innervate:
  • lacrimal gland, synapsing 1st in pterygopalatine ganglion
  • submaxillary gland, synapsing 1st in submandibular ganglion
  • submandibular gland, synapsing 1st in submandibular ganglion

More general terms

• cranial nerve nucleus

Additional terms

• facial nerve (CN VII)

Component of

• medulla oblongata