Positional variation of the ciliary ganglion and its clinical relevance

Ciliary ganglion is one of the peripheral parasympathetic ganglion situated near the apex of the orbit between lateral rectus and optic nerve. During routine dissection of a human cadaver for the medical students at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, we found a rare and unreported case, where, the ciliary ganglion was placed between the medial rectus and the optic nerve, lateral to the ophthalmic artery. In this report we also discuss the course, relations of the branches/roots of the ganglion, histological study and the clinical relevance of this positional variation.