Meanings
plural greater petrosal nerves
- anatomyA mixed nerve that contains mostly sensory and some parasympathetic fibers, arises in the geniculate ganglion, joins with the deep petrosal nerve at the entrance of the pterygoid canal to form the Vidian nerve, and as part of this nerve sends sensory fibers to the soft palate with some to the Eustachian tube and sends parasympathetic fibers forming the motor root of the pterygopalatine ganglion.
Synonyms: greater superficial petrosal nerve
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA mixed nerve that contains mostly sensory and some parasympathetic fibers, arises in the geniculate ganglion, joins with the deep petrosal nerve at the entrance of the pterygoid canal to form the Vidian nerve, and as part of this nerve sends sensory fibers to the soft palate with some to the Eustachian tube and sends parasympathetic fibers forming the motor root of the pterygopalatine ganglion.
Cite this entry
greater petrosal nerve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greater%20petrosal%20nerve
“greater petrosal nerve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greater%20petrosal%20nerve. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “greater petrosal nerve,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/greater%20petrosal%20nerve.
Source: greater petrosal nerve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.