deep petrosal nerve

deep petrosal nerve (plural deep petrosal nerves)

1. (neuroanatomy) A sympathetic nerve that originates in the carotid plexus, passes through the cartilage of the Eustachian tube, joins with the greater petrosal nerve at the entrance of the pterygoid canal to form the Vidian nerve, and as part of this nerve passes through the pterygopalatine ganglion without forming synapses to be distributed to the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and palate.

   Coordinate terms: greater petrosal nerve, lesser petrosal nerve

• “deep petrosal nerve”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.