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Figure 1


Fig. 1 Drawing shows normal anatomy of oculosympathetic pathway. First-order neuron (dashed line) arises from posterolateral hypothalamus, descends into brainstem and intermediolateral column of spinal cord, and exits at cervical (C8) and thoracic (T1-T2) levels of spinal cord as second-order neuron (dotted line). Second-order preganglionic neurons exit ventral spinal roots (a) and arch over apex of lung to ascend in cervical sympathetic chain, synapsing in superior cervical ganglion (b) and exiting as third-order neuron (solid lines). Neural fibers for sweating of face, except medial forehead, travel with external carotid artery. Third-order postganglionic neuron travels with carotid artery (c) into cavernous sinus and with ophthalmic branch (d) of fifth cranial nerve joins nasociliary branch of fifth cranial nerve or passes through ciliary ganglion (e) directly, reaching eye as long (f) and short (g) ciliary nerves [7, 8]. Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers (gray lines) arise from accessory oculomotor nucleus (h), exit as oculomotor nerve (i), synapse at ciliary ganglion, and reach eye as short ciliary nerves.