title: Clinical functional anatomy of the pterygopalatine ganglion, cephalgia and related dysautonomias: A review.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to explain the anatomy of the pterygopalatine ganglion (PPG), its location in the pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) in the skull, and the relationship it has to the Vidian nerve terminal branches and the fifth cranial nerve. An overview of the neuro-anatomical/clinical correlations, a spectrum of pathologies affecting the seventh cranial nerve and some therapies both medical and surgical are noted. The focus is the pterygopalatine region with discussion of the proximal courses of the seventh and fifth cranial nerves and their pathological processes. The ganglion is used as an example of neuro-anatomical model for explaining cluster headaches (CH). Radiological correlation is included to clarify the location of the PPF and its clinical importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Skull Base Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khonsary
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Skull Base Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.
authors.forename: Quanfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiological Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villablanca
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Skull Base Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Skull Base Laboratory, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malkasian
keywords: Cluster headaches; facial paresis; greater superficial petrosal nerve; pterygopalatine fossa; pterygopalatine ganglion; radiosurgery; seventh cranial nerve; treatment of cluster headaches