plural of petrosal

Of great hardness; petrous. / (anatomy, relational) Of, pertaining to, or located near the petrous part of the temporal bone or the capsule of the inner ear.

(anatomy) The petrous part of the temporal bone at the base of the skull, surrounding the inner ear. / (anatomy, zootomy) The auditory capsule.

(neuroanatomy) Any of several small nerves passing through foramina in the petrous portion of the temporal bone.

plural of petrosal ganglion

(neuroanatomy) Synonym of inferior ganglion.

(anatomy) Either of two venous sinuses on each side of the base of the brain.

(neuroanatomy) A mixed nerve that contains mostly sensory and some parasympathetic fibers, arises in the geniculate ganglion, joins with the deep petrosal nerve at the entrance of the pterygoid canal to form the Vidian nerve, and as part of this nerve sends sensory fibers to the soft palate with some to the Eustachian tube and sends parasympathetic fibers forming the motor root of the pterygopalatine ganglion.

(neuroanatomy) The continuation of the tympanic nerve beyond the inferior ganglion of the glossopharyngeal nerve that passes into the cranial cavity through the petrous part of the temporal bone and out again to terminate in the otic ganglion which it supplies with preganglionic parasympathetic fibers.

(neuroanatomy) A sympathetic nerve that originates in the carotid plexus, passes through the cartilage of the Eustachian tube, joins with the greater petrosal nerve at the entrance of the pterygoid canal to form the Vidian nerve, and as part of this nerve passes through the pterygopalatine ganglion without forming synapses to be distributed to the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and palate.