A 32-year-old woman presents with episodic severe lancinating facial pain triggered by eating, in the territory of the posterior tongue and fauces. This is most consistent with neuralgia of which nerve, and which ganglion contains its cell bodies?

• A Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX); inferior (petrosal) ganglion of CN IX ✓
• B Trigeminal nerve (CN V3); trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglion
• C Vagus nerve (CN X); superior ganglion of CN X
• D Facial nerve (CN VII); geniculate ganglion

Explanation

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia causes severe paroxysmal pain in the posterior tongue, tonsillar fossa, and deep ear triggered by swallowing or touching the posterior pharynx. The general somatic afferent (GSA) cell bodies of CN IX for pain and temperature from the posterior tongue reside in the inferior (petrosal) ganglion, which is located in the jugular foramen. CN V3 supplies the anterior two-thirds of tongue and the mandibular region. The geniculate ganglion contains sensory cell bodies of the facial nerve.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.