The lesser petrosal nerve then travels anteriorly from the hiatus toward the foramen ovale, through which it exits the cranial cavity.
The lesser petrosal nerve re-enters and travels through the temporal bone to emerge in the middle cranial fossa just lateral to the greater petrosal nerve.
The nasal glands are innervated with secretomotor from the greater petrosal nerve.
Just distal to the geniculate ganglion, the facial nerve gives off the greater petrosal nerve.
Its medial half is marked by a sulcus, which forms, with a corresponding sulcus on the occipital bone, the channel for the inferior petrosal sinus.
The junction of the inferior petrosal sinus with the internal jugular vein takes place on the lateral aspect of the nerves.
The inferior petrosal sinus receives the internal auditory veins and also veins from the medulla oblongata, pons, and under surface of the cerebellum.
The greater petrosal nerve, which carries sensory fibers as well as preganglionic parasympathetic fibers, emerges from the anterior aspect of the ganglion.
