title: A ganglion cell cluster along the glossopharyngeal nerve near the human palatine tonsil.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  The lingual branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve were most likely to bring not only gustatory nerves to the postsulcal part of the tongue but also autonomic nerves to the small glands and vessels. Tonsillectomy may injure the ganglion or reduce its function due to scar formation after surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the topographical anatomy of a suggested ganglion cluster along the lingual branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve and to identify the incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the human pharynges of 12 donated cadavers, we studied the ganglia using routine procedures for paraffin-embedded histology and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Near the palatine tonsil, the lingual branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve often contained ganglion cells (in 9 of 12 specimens). The ganglion cells, 20-40 µ in diameter, were sparsely distributed along a 0.5-3.0 mm length of the nerve course attached to the posterolateral aspect of the superior pharyngeal constrictor. Most of these cells were positive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase, while some were positive for tyrosine hydroxylase. Thus, the ganglion was composed of a mixed population of sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Katori
authors.forename: Mineko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimiya
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Tetsuaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawase
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D005930:Glossopharyngeal Nerve / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase