Ganglia and ganglion cells in the middle ear: Their presence in the human and the cat

One hundred human and 100 cat temporal bones were studied for the presence of ganglia and/or ganglion cells. These structures were found at the following two main locations: (1) the promontory wall, both anterior to and below the stapes, and (2) the vertical portion of the facial nerve. In the cat, additional ganglion cells were found within the capsule of the musculus tensor tympani, proximal, medial, and lateral to muscle fibers. The consistent presence of ganglion cells in the mucoperiosteum suggests that they play important roles in the middle ear itself; their presence in the vertical portion of the facial nerve supports the concept that the parasympathetic innervation of the parotid gland is not exclusively via the ninth nerve and/or lends anatomical support to atypical facial pains.