Jugular nerve

Jugular nerve is a branch of the superior cervical ganglion, which connects it to the vagus nerve. It ascends cranially within the carotid sheath, along with the vagus nerve and carotid arteries, to reach the jugular foramen. It contains postganglionic sympathetic fibers from the superior cervical ganglion and conveys them to the superior (or jugular) ganglion of the vagus nerve within the jugular foramen. This way it helps in supplying sympathetic innervation to the smooth muscle, glands and mucosa of the head and neck, via the vagus nerve. Studies in animals have proposed an additional communication of the jugular nerve with the ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Understanding the anatomy of the jugular nerve could be clinically important when carrying out procedures, such as, the head and neck ganglion blocks for pain relief. Moreover, damage to jugular nerve and superior cervical ganglion during head and neck surgeries could lead to Horner’s syndrome due to disruption of sympathetic innervation to this region.