Alderman's nerve
Encyclopedia
The auricular branch of the vagus nerve
is often termed the Alderman's nerve or Arnold's nerve. The latter name is an eponym for Friedrich Arnold
.
, and is joined soon after its origin by a filament from the petrous ganglion
of the glossopharyngeal; it passes behind the internal jugular vein
, and enters the mastoid canaliculus
on the lateral wall of the jugular fossa
.
Traversing the substance of the temporal bone
, it crosses the facial canal
about 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) above the stylomastoid foramen
, and here it gives off an ascending branch which joins the facial nerve
.
The nerve reaches the surface by passing through the tympanomastoid fissure between the mastoid process and the tympanic part of the temporal bone, and divides into two branches:
.
Laryngeal cancer can present with pain behind the ear and in the ear - this is a referred pain
through the vagus nerve to the nerve of Arnold.
In a small portion of individuals, the auricular nerve is the afferent limb of the Ear-Cough or Arnold Reflex. Physical stimulation of the external acoustic meatus innervated by the auricular nerve elicits a cough, much like the other cough reflexes associated with the vagus nerve.
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
is often termed the Alderman's nerve or Arnold's nerve. The latter name is an eponym for Friedrich Arnold
Friedrich Arnold
Friedrich Arnold was professor emeritus of anatomy and physiology at Heidelberg. He read medicine at the University of Heidelberg at the same time as his elder brother Johann Wilhelm Arnold ....
.
Path
It arises from the jugular ganglionJugular ganglion
The vagus presents a well-marked ganglionic enlargement, which is called the superior ganglion of the vagus nerve. It contains afferent somatosensory neuronal cell bodies that provide sensory information from the external auditory meatus , cranial meninges , and the external surface of the tympanic...
, and is joined soon after its origin by a filament from the petrous ganglion
Petrous ganglion
The inferior ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve is larger than the superior ganglion and is situated in a depression in the lower border of the petrous portion of the temporal bone....
of the glossopharyngeal; it passes behind the internal jugular vein
Internal jugular vein
The two internal jugular veins collect the blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck.-Path:On both sides and at the base of the brain, the inferior petrosal sinus and the sigmoid sinus join to form the internal jugular vein...
, and enters the mastoid canaliculus
Mastoid canaliculus
In the lateral part of the jugular fossa of the temporal bone is the mastoid canaliculus for the entrance of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve....
on the lateral wall of the jugular fossa
Jugular fossa
The jugular fossa is a deep depression in the inferior part of the base of the skull. More specifically, it is located in the temporal bone, posterior to the carotid canal and the aquæductus cochleæ...
.
Traversing the substance of the temporal bone
Temporal bone
The temporal bones are situated at the sides and base of the skull, and lateral to the temporal lobes of the cerebrum.The temporal bone supports that part of the face known as the temple.-Parts:The temporal bone consists of four parts:* Squama temporalis...
, it crosses the facial canal
Facial canal
The facial canal is a Z-shaped canal running through the temporal bone from the internal acoustic meatus to the stylomastoid foramen. In humans it is approximately 3 centimeters long, which makes it the longest human osseous canal of a nerve...
about 4 mm (0.15748031496063 in) above the stylomastoid foramen
Stylomastoid foramen
Between the styloid and mastoid processes of the temporal bone is the stylomastoid foramenIt is the termination of the facial canal, and transmits the facial nerve and stylomastoid artery.- Clinical Relevance :...
, and here it gives off an ascending branch which joins the facial nerve
Facial nerve
The facial nerve is the seventh of twelve paired cranial nerves. It emerges from the brainstem between the pons and the medulla, and controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and oral cavity...
.
The nerve reaches the surface by passing through the tympanomastoid fissure between the mastoid process and the tympanic part of the temporal bone, and divides into two branches:
- one joins the posterior auricular nervePosterior auricular nerveThe posterior auricular nerve arises from the facial nerve close to the stylomastoid foramen and runs upward in front of the mastoid process; here it is joined by a filament from the auricular branch of the vagus and communicates with the posterior branch of the great auricular as well as with the...
. - the other is distributed to the skin of the back of the auriculaEarThe ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
and to the posterior part of the external acoustic meatusAcoustic meatusAcoustic meatus may refer to:* internal acoustic meatus * external acoustic meatus...
.
Clinical significance
This nerve may be involved by the glomus jugulare tumourParaganglioma
A paraganglioma is a rare neuroendocrine neoplasm that may develop at various body sites . About 97% are benign and cured by surgical removal; the remaining 3% are malignant because they are able to produce distant metastases...
.
Laryngeal cancer can present with pain behind the ear and in the ear - this is a referred pain
Referred pain
Referred pain is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus. An example is the case of ischemia brought on by a myocardial infarction , where pain is often felt in the neck, shoulders, and back rather than in the chest, the site of the injury...
through the vagus nerve to the nerve of Arnold.
In a small portion of individuals, the auricular nerve is the afferent limb of the Ear-Cough or Arnold Reflex. Physical stimulation of the external acoustic meatus innervated by the auricular nerve elicits a cough, much like the other cough reflexes associated with the vagus nerve.