Superior salivatory nucleus

The superior salivatory nucleus of the facial nerve is a visceromotor cranial nerve nucleus located in the pontine tegmentum.

Parasympathetic efferent fibers of the facial nerve arise according to some authors from the small cells of the facial nucleus, or according to others from a special nucleus of cells scattered in the reticular formation, dorso-medial to the facial nucleus.

Some of the preganglionic fibers travel along the greater petrosal nerve through the pterygoid canal and synapse in the pterygopalatine ganglion, where upon the postganglionic, postsynaptic, efferent fibers travel to innervate the lacrimal gland and the mucosal glands of the nose, palate, and pharynx.

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers are also distributed partly via the chorda tympani and lingual nerves to the submandibular ganglion, thence by postganglionic fibers to the submandibular gland and sublingual gland.