Matthews B, Robinson P P
Brain Res. 1986 Sep 10;382(1):55-60. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(86)90110-1.
Electrophysiological techniques have been used to determine whether sympathetic fibres are present in branches of the facial nerve. Compound action potentials could be recorded from all branches of the facial nerve during stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk. The course taken by the sympathetic fibres was determined by observing whether nerve sections at different sites blocked these responses. Two pathways were found: one group of fibres leaves the superior cervical ganglion in the internal carotid nerve, joins the auricular branch of the vagus nerve at the jugular foramen and passes via this nerve to the facial nerve, which it joins in the facial canal just central to the stylomastoid foramen. A second, apparently smaller group of fibres travels in the internal carotid nerve, crosses the roof of the tympanic bulla in the tympanic plexus, enters the middle cranial cavity through the foramen lacerum and passes with the greater superficial petrosal nerve to join the facial nerve at the geniculate ganglion.
电生理技术已被用于确定面神经分支中是否存在交感神经纤维。在刺激颈交感干时，可从面神经的所有分支记录复合动作电位。通过观察不同部位的神经切断是否阻断这些反应来确定交感神经纤维的走行。发现了两条通路：一组纤维从颈上神经节离开，沿颈内神经走行，在颈静脉孔处与迷走神经的耳支会合，并通过该神经到达面神经，在茎乳孔稍上方的面神经管内与面神经相连。另一组明显较细的纤维沿颈内神经走行，在鼓室丛中穿过鼓泡顶部，通过破裂孔进入颅中窝，并与岩大神经一起在膝状神经节处与面神经相连。
