The facial & glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 1

What is Cranial nerve VII

Answer 1

Cranial nerve 7, the facial nerve

Question 2

What type of nerve is the facial nerve?

Answer 2

A mixed nerve with fewer sensory and more motor components than the trigeminal nerve.

Question 3

What does the facial nerve innervate (broad)

Answer 3

many head and neck tissues (complements the functions of the trigeminal nerve)

Question 4

What is the pathway of the facial nerve? (4 points)

Answer 4

• Originates from the junction of the pons and medulla (brain stem)
• Passes through the internal acoustic meatus to leave cranial cavity
• Goes through the facial canal in the temporal bone
• Exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen (temporal bone)

Question 5

What does the main trunk of the facial nerve split into after passing through the stylomastoid foramen? (4)

Answer 5

• posterior auricular nerve (occipital belly of epicranial muscle)
• Posterior digastric nerve (post. belly of digastric m)
• stylohyoid nerve (stylo.h m.)
• large motor root- to muscles of facial expression
  PPs

Question 6

What are the five motor branches of the facial nerve?

Answer 6

• temporal
• zygomatic
• buccal
• mandibular
• cervical

Question 7

What does the temporal branch of the facial nerve innervate?

Answer 7

• superior orbicularis oculi
• corrugator supercilii

Question 8

What does the zygomatic branch of the the facial nerve innervate?

Answer 8

• inferior orbicularis oculi
• zygomaticus major
• zygomaticus minor

Question 9

What does the buccal branch of the facial nerve innervate?

Answer 9

• Buccinator
• Risorium
• Orbicularis oris
  BRO

Question 10

What does the mandibular branch of the facial nerve innervate?

Answer 10

• Mentalis
  m&ms

Question 11

What does the cervical branch of the facial nerve innervate?

Answer 11

• Platysma

Question 12

Describe the greater petrosal nerve.

Carries (3)

Answer 12

• Carries preganglionic parasympathetic (motor) fibres for the lacrimal gland to the pterygopalatine ganglion
• Carries postganglionic fibres (motor) to the lacrimal gland via the zygomatic and lacrimal nerves
• Carries sensory fibres for taste in the palate

Question 13

Describe the chorda tympani nerve.

exits, travels, carries, innervates

Answer 13

• Exits the skull via the petrotympanic fissure just behind the tmj
• Travels with but doesn’t communicate with the lingual nerve
• Carries pre and post-ganglionic parasympathetic (motor) fibres to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands via submandibular ganglion
• sensory nerve for taste for body of tongue

Question 14

What is a condition associated with the facial nerve?

Answer 14

Bell’s palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis)

Question 15

What is the cause of Bell’s Palsy?

Answer 15

Unknown, but maybe
- inflammation
- viral infection

Question 16

What are some treatments of Bell’s palsy? (3)

Answer 16

• anti-inflammatory corticosteroids
• Anti-viral drugs
• Physical therapy

Question 17

What is cranial nerve IX

Answer 17

Cranial nerve 9, the glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 18

What type of nerve is CN IX?

Answer 18

A mixed nerve (sensory and motor)
- supplies areas not supplied by the trigeminal or facial nerve.

Question 19

What is the motor component of the glossopharyngeal nerve?

Answer 19

• Pharyngeal muscles
• Stylopharyngeus muscles