Tonsillar branches of lesser palatine nerves - Cranial nerves - Maxillary nerve; Maxillary division [Vb; V2] - e-Anatomy
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Tonsillar branches of lesser palatine nerves

Rami tonsillares nervorum palatinorum minorum

  • Related terms: Tonsillar branches

Definition

The tonsillar branches of lesser palatine nerves arise from the lesser palatine nerves after they have exited the lesser palatine foramina to reach the oral surface of the soft palate.

As the lesser palatine nerves travel posteromedially to innervate the undersurface of the soft palate and uvula, additional neuronal branches are also given off to the superior portion of the palatine tonsil. These tonsillar branches of lesser palatine nerves transmit general somatic and taste sensations from the rostral part of palatine tonsils.

References

Text written by Muhammad A. Javaid, MD, PhD © 2022 IMAIOS.

  • Fillmore, E.P. and Seifert, M.F. (2015). ‘Chapter 22-Anatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve’, in Nerves and Nerve Injuries. Editor(s): Tubbs, R.S., Rizk, E., Shoja, M.M., Loukas, M., Barbaro, N. and Spinner, R.J. Academic Press, pp. 328. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-410390-0.00023-8

  • Drake, R.L., Vogl, A.W. and Mitchell, A.W.M. (2009). ‘Chapter 8: Head and Neck’ in Gray’s anatomy for Students. (2nd ed.) Philadelphia PA 19103-2899: Elsevier, pp. 1054.

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