deep petrosal nerve deep petrosal nerve the deep petrosal nerve is a branch of the internal carotid plexus which runs through the carotid canal lateral to the internal carotid artery. it enters the cartilaginous substance which fills the foramen lacerum, and joins with the greater petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, also known as the vidian nerve. the deep petrosal nerve carries postganglionic sympathetic axons to the pterygopalatine ganglion, which pass through without synapsing. these axons innervate blood vessels and mucous glands of the head and neck. the neuron cell bodies of the axons which form the deep petrosal nerve are found in the superior cervical ganglion. deep petrosal nervealveolar branches of superior maxillary nerve and sphenopalatine ganglion. (deep petrosal labeled at bottom, center-right.)detailsfrominternal carotid plexustonerve of pterygoid canalidentifierslatinnervus petrosus profundusta98a14.3.02.008ta26647fma67549anatomical terms of neuroanatomy additional images sympathetic connections of the pterygopalatine and superior cervical ganglia. depicts nerve branches that are involved in the autonomic innervation of the lacrimal gland. the terminal parts of the pathway are variable between individuals and differ for the other glands of the deep face.