Mechanism of gustatory flushing in Frey's syndrome

Drummond, P.D. (2002) Mechanism of gustatory flushing in Frey's syndrome. Clinical Autonomic Research, 12 (3). pp. 144-146.

Abstract

Injury to a branch of the mandibular nerve typically interrupts the sympathetic supply within the distribution of that nerve branch. The mandibular nerve supplies the tissues of the lower jaw (the teeth,part of the oral cavity, the lower lip, the temporomandibular joint, part of the external ear, and the skin above the jaw line extending in a band from the chin and lower lip to the temple) with sensory fibers. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons originate in the superior cervical ganglion and project in a plexus around branches of the carotid artery. Bundles of fibers periodically leave this plexus to join branches of the mandibular nerve, ultimately to supply blood vessels, glands, and other tissue.