Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders
Background: The otic ganglion (OG) is a cranial parasympathetic ganglion located in the infratemporal fossa under the foramen ovale (FO) and adjacent to the medial part of the mandibular nerve. Parasympathetic innervation of intracranial vessels from the OG has been shown both in animal and human mo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Cephalalgia Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816319850761 |
| _version_ | 1819093123100311552 |
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| author | Joan Crespi Daniel Bratbak David W. Dodick Manjit S. Matharu Miriam Senger Doychin N. Angelov Erling Tronvik |
| author_facet | Joan Crespi Daniel Bratbak David W. Dodick Manjit S. Matharu Miriam Senger Doychin N. Angelov Erling Tronvik |
| author_sort | Joan Crespi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The otic ganglion (OG) is a cranial parasympathetic ganglion located in the infratemporal fossa under the foramen ovale (FO) and adjacent to the medial part of the mandibular nerve. Parasympathetic innervation of intracranial vessels from the OG has been shown both in animal and human models and evidence suggests that the OG plays an important role in the cranial vasomotor response. We review the evidence that positions the OG as a viable target for headache disorders. The OG is a small structure and not detectable on medical imaging. The FO is easily identifiable on CT scans and the mandibular nerve on MRI, hence, the position of the OG may be predicted if the mean distance from the FO is known. Objective: The objective is to describe the average distance between the FO and the OG in a sample of 18 infratemporal fossae from 21 cadavers. Methods: A total of 21 high definition photographs of 21 infratemporal fossae from 18 cadavers were analyzed. The distance between the inferior edge of the medial part of the FO to the OG was measured. Results: Four photographs of infratemporal fossae of four cadavers were excluded due to the inability to localize the inferior edge of the FO. A total of 15 infratemporal fossae from 17 cadavers were measured. The mean distance from the FO to the OG was 4.5 mm (SD 1.7), range 2.1–7.7 mm. Conclusions: We have described the average distance from the OG to an easily identifiable anatomical landmark that is visible in CT scans, the FO. This anatomical study may aid in the development of strategies to localize the OG in order to explore its role as a therapeutic target for headache disorders. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:06:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f5851fc367f84c5b8cac3c53c81c4e9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-8163 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:06:30Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cephalalgia Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f5851fc367f84c5b8cac3c53c81c4e9b2022-12-21T18:47:10ZengSAGE PublishingCephalalgia Reports2515-81632019-05-01210.1177/2515816319850761Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disordersJoan Crespi0Daniel Bratbak1David W. Dodick2Manjit S. Matharu3Miriam Senger4Doychin N. Angelov5Erling Tronvik6 Norwegian Advisory Unit on Headaches, Trondheim, Norway Department of Neurosurgery, St. Olav’s University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway Mayo Clinic, Arizona, USA UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, England, UK Anatomical Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Anatomical Institute, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany Norwegian Advisory Unit on Headaches, Trondheim, NorwayBackground: The otic ganglion (OG) is a cranial parasympathetic ganglion located in the infratemporal fossa under the foramen ovale (FO) and adjacent to the medial part of the mandibular nerve. Parasympathetic innervation of intracranial vessels from the OG has been shown both in animal and human models and evidence suggests that the OG plays an important role in the cranial vasomotor response. We review the evidence that positions the OG as a viable target for headache disorders. The OG is a small structure and not detectable on medical imaging. The FO is easily identifiable on CT scans and the mandibular nerve on MRI, hence, the position of the OG may be predicted if the mean distance from the FO is known. Objective: The objective is to describe the average distance between the FO and the OG in a sample of 18 infratemporal fossae from 21 cadavers. Methods: A total of 21 high definition photographs of 21 infratemporal fossae from 18 cadavers were analyzed. The distance between the inferior edge of the medial part of the FO to the OG was measured. Results: Four photographs of infratemporal fossae of four cadavers were excluded due to the inability to localize the inferior edge of the FO. A total of 15 infratemporal fossae from 17 cadavers were measured. The mean distance from the FO to the OG was 4.5 mm (SD 1.7), range 2.1–7.7 mm. Conclusions: We have described the average distance from the OG to an easily identifiable anatomical landmark that is visible in CT scans, the FO. This anatomical study may aid in the development of strategies to localize the OG in order to explore its role as a therapeutic target for headache disorders.https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816319850761 |
| spellingShingle | Joan Crespi Daniel Bratbak David W. Dodick Manjit S. Matharu Miriam Senger Doychin N. Angelov Erling Tronvik Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders Cephalalgia Reports |
| title | Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| title_full | Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| title_fullStr | Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| title_short | Anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion: A possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| title_sort | anatomical landmarks for localizing the otic ganglion a possible new treatment target for headache disorders |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2515816319850761 |
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