Comparative Anatomical Study on The Ciliarly Ganglion of Lizards (Reptilia - Squamata - Lacertilia)

The ciliary ganglion is a well-defined ovate ganglionic mass in the three species studied Uromastyx aegyptius, Sphenops sepsoides and Varanus griseus. The ganglion consists of bipolar neurons in the three species studied. In both Uromastyx and Sphenops the neurons are of two sizes large and small, while in Varanus they are of one and the same size. In the three species studied, the ciliary ganglion has three roots, parasympathetic (motor), sympathetic and sensory roots. The parasympathetic root is represented by the radix ciliaris brevis which arises from the ramus inferior of the nervus oculomotorius. The sympathetic root arises from the internal carotid plexus and joins the ganglion in both Sphenops and Varanus while it jnoins the ciliary nerve in Uromaxtyx. The sensory root is formed of the radix ciliaris longa which connects the ramus nasalis of the nervus trigeminus and the ciliary ganglion in Varanus and the ciliary nerve in Sphenops and both in Uromastyx. The ciliary ganglion gives off one ciliary nerve in both Uromastyx and Sphenops whereas, it gives rise to two nerves in Varanus.