Tympanic nerve
The tympanic nerve is a branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve found near the ear.Path
It arises from the inferior ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve, and ascends to the tympanic cavity through a small canal, the inferior tympanic canaliculus, on the under surface of the petrous portion of the temporal bone on the ridge which separates the carotid canal from the jugular fossa.
In the tympanic cavity it divides into branches which form the tympanic plexus and are contained in grooves upon the surface of the promontory.
The tympanic nerve contains both sensory and parasympathetic axons:
This nerve may be involved by paraganglioma, in this location referred to as glomus jugulare or glomus tympanicum tumours.Additional images
