Neuroanatomy, Semilunar Ganglion

Excerpt

The semilunar sensory ganglion (also known as the trigeminal ganglion or Gasserian ganglion) is a thin, crescent-shaped structure in the Meckel cave within the middle cranial fossa. See Image. Semilunar (Trigeminal) Ganglion. The semilunar ganglion is the great sensory ganglion of the fifth cranial nerve (CN V), the largest and most complex of the 12 cranial nerves. The semilunar ganglion plays a critical role in expressing various neuropeptides and signaling molecules important in gene expression, modulation of sensory information, and peripheral and central sensitization.

The ganglion contains the cell bodies of the sensory roots of the 3 major divisions of the trigeminal nerve (CN V); the ophthalmic nerve (V1 sensory), maxillary nerve (V2 sensory), and mandibular nerve (V3 motor and sensory). Trigeminal neuralgia, when refractory to medical treatment, can be effectively treated by percutaneous interventions at the semilunar ganglion by accessing the foramen ovale through the oral cavity and ablating the ganglion by radiofrequency, balloon compression, or chemical means.