Posterior nasal nerve (PNN)

The posterior nasal nerve (PNN), also referred to as the posterior superior nasal nerve or short sphenopalatine nerve, comprises terminal branches of the pterygopalatine ganglion that convey sensory, parasympathetic, and sympathetic fibers to the nasal respiratory mucosa. It innervates both the nasal septum and lateral nasal wall, providing the main pathway for autonomic nasal gland innervation and sensory input from the posterior nasal cavity. The PNN is a therapeutic target for chronic rhinitis, where minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation or cryoablation are used to disrupt its function, leading to reduced nasal secretions and relief of symptoms resistant to medical management. These interventions do not target a single molecular receptor or protein, but rather the nerve as an anatomical and functional pathway. Direct drug interaction with the nerve is not applicable; instead, procedural ablation is performed for therapeutic benefit. Key caveat: The posterior nasal nerve is an anatomical structure (a nerve branch), not a singular molecular target or receptor. Procedures target the whole nerve, not a molecular protein, hence most structured target fields (like molecular classification, interacting drugs, biomarkers) have limited or no direct mapping as for a classic druggable target (such as a receptor or enzyme).

Other names

Posterior superior nasal nerveShort sphenopalatine nervePosterior nasal nerves

Ablation (disruption of nerve transmission to reduce parasympathetic-mediated nasal secretions and sensory nerve activity)