nervus petrosus major

[TA] greater petrosal nerve: origin, intermediate nerve via geniculate ganglion; distribution, running forward from the geniculate ganglion, it joins the deep petrosal nerve of the pterygoid canal, and reaches lacrimal, nasal, and palatine glands and nasopharynx, via pterygopalatine ganglion and its branches; modality, parasympathetic and general sensory. Called also radix parasympathica ganglii pterygopalatini [TA alternative] (which is the term preferred in the official nomenclature when the ganglia of the pars parasympathica are being considered), radix intermedia ganglii pterygopalatini [TA alternative], and parasympathetic root of pterygopalatine ganglion.