Facial Nerve Anatomy Quiz

Facial Nerve Anatomy

Course of the Facial Nerve

• The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) arises from the brainstem at the pontomedullary junction
• It runs through the internal auditory canal, accompanied by the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII)
• The facial nerve exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen

Branches of the Facial Nerve

• Motor branch: responsible for controlling facial expressions, salivation, and lacrimation
  • Temporal branch: innervates the frontalis and orbicularis oculi muscles
  • Zygomatic branch: innervates the orbicularis oculi and zygomaticus major muscles
  • Buccal branch: innervates the buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles
  • Mandibular branch: innervates the mentalis and depressor anguli oris muscles
  • Cervical branch: innervates the platysma muscle
• Sensory branch: responsible for conveying taste and sensation from the tongue and ear
  • Chorda tympani nerve: carries taste information from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
  • Nerve to the stapedius: innervates the stapedius muscle in the middle ear
• Parasympathetic branch: responsible for controlling salivation and lacrimation
  • Greater petrosal nerve: innervates the lacrimal gland
  • Chorda tympani nerve: also carries parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular and sublingual glands

Nuclei of the Facial Nerve

• Motor nucleus: located in the pontine tegmentum, responsible for controlling facial expressions
• Sensory nucleus: located in the solitary tract, responsible for conveying taste and sensation from the tongue and ear
• Superior salivatory nucleus: located in the pontine tegmentum, responsible for controlling salivation
• Lacrimatory nucleus: located in the pontine tegmentum, responsible for controlling lacrimation

Facial Nerve Anatomy

Course of the Facial Nerve

• Arises from the brainstem at the pontomedullary junction
• Runs through the internal auditory canal with the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve VIII)
• Exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen

Branches of the Facial Nerve

Motor Branch

• Controls facial expressions, salivation, and lacrimation
• Temporal branch: innervates frontalis and orbicularis oculi muscles
• Zygomatic branch: innervates orbicularis oculi and zygomaticus major muscles
• Buccal branch: innervates buccinator and orbicularis oris muscles
• Mandibular branch: innervates mentalis and depressor anguli oris muscles
• Cervical branch: innervates platysma muscle

Sensory Branch

• Conveys taste and sensation from the tongue and ear
• Chorda tympani nerve: carries taste information from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
• Nerve to the stapedius: innervates the stapedius muscle in the middle ear

Parasympathetic Branch

• Controls salivation and lacrimation
• Greater petrosal nerve: innervates the lacrimal gland
• Chorda tympani nerve: carries parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular and sublingual glands

Nuclei of the Facial Nerve

Motor Nucleus

• Located in the pontine tegmentum
• Controls facial expressions

Sensory Nucleus

• Located in the solitary tract
• Conveys taste and sensation from the tongue and ear

Superior Salivatory Nucleus

• Located in the pontine tegmentum
• Controls salivation

Lacrimatory Nucleus

• Located in the pontine tegmentum
• Controls lacrimation

Test your knowledge of the facial nerve's course, branches, and functions. Learn about the anatomy of cranial nerve VII!