10 Facts About Facial nerve

Facial nerve, known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.

The facial nerve then passes through the parotid gland, which it does not innervate, to form the parotid plexus, which splits into five branches innervating the muscles of facial expression.

Greater petrosal Facial nerve arises at the superior salivatory nucleus of the pons and provides parasympathetic innervation to several glands, including the nasal glands, the palatine glands, the lacrimal gland, and the pharyngeal gland.

Cell bodies for the facial nerve are grouped in anatomical areas called nuclei or ganglia.

Facial nerve is developmentally derived from the second pharyngeal arch, or branchial arch.

The motor division of the facial nerve is derived from the basal plate of the embryonic pons, while the sensory division originates from the cranial neural crest.

Main function of the facial nerve is motor control of all of the muscles of facial expression.

The intermediate Facial nerve reaches the posterior cranial fossa via the internal acoustic meatus before synapsing in the solitary nucleus.

Facial nerve carries axons of type GSA, general somatic afferent, to skin of the posterior ear.

Facial nerve carries axons of type GVE, general visceral efferent, which innervate the sublingual, submandibular, and lacrimal glands, mucosa of nasal cavity.