Surgical anatomy of the Geniculate ganglion

The position and the average dimensions of the geniculate ganglion have been measured with the Zeiss screw micrometer in 24 temporal bones obtained from the histological collection of the ENT department of the University of Zurich. The geniculate ganglion has been found to lie like a cup over the anterior portion of the genu of the VII nerve. Its dimensions have shown only minimal variations (standard deviation of average length, height and width less than 10%). Surgical resection of the anterior third of the genu of VII nerve has been shown to include 90% of the ganglion cells but not to endanger the motor fibres. These surgical measurements are the basis for performing a resection of the geniculate ganglion in cases of geniculate neuralgia.