Glossopharyngeal nerve (distal branches) (Latin)

After exiting the foramen jugulare, the n. glossopharyngeus gives off the n. tympanicus which joins the plexus tympanicus, providing general sensory innervation to the tunica mucosa of the auris media, tuba auditiva, and cellulae mastoideae. The plexus tympanicus gives rise to the n. petrosus minor, which carries the parasympathetic component of the n. glossopharyngeus and supplies it to the ganglion oticum to innervate the glandula parotidea via the n. auriculotemporalis (branch of CN V3). The n. glossopharyngeus then descends into the trigonum anterius colli, where it gives rise to several branches.The r. stylopharyngeus provides somatic motor innervation to the m. stylopharyngeus. The n. sinus carotidis carries general visceral afferent fibers from the sinus carotidis and glomus caroticum. Rr. pharyngei and rr. tonsillares provide general sensory supply to the tunica mucosa pharyngis and the region of the tonsilla palatina, respectively. The r. lingualis provides general sensory supply to the radix linguae and special visceral afferent (taste) innervation to the posterior one-third of the tongue (lingua). Finally, the n. glossopharyngeus gives off rr. communicantes that form connections with the truncus sympathicus, n. vagus (CN X) and n. faciales (CN VII).