Facial Nerve Flashcards

Examine the facial nerve's brainstem origins, temporal bone course, motor branches, taste pathways, parasympathetic supply, and clinical anatomy.

Card 1 of 30Question

What is the numerical designation of the facial nerve?

Cranial nerve VII (CN VII).

In This Section

1. What is the numerical designation of the facial nerve?

Cranial nerve VII (CN VII).

2. What are the principal functional components of the facial nerve?

Branchial motor, parasympathetic, special visceral sensory, and general somatic sensory fibers.

3. From which part of the brainstem does the facial nerve emerge?

The pontomedullary junction, near the cerebellopontine angle.

4. Which brainstem nucleus supplies motor fibers to the muscles of facial expression?

The facial motor nucleus in the caudal pons.

5. Which structure is formed by facial motor fibers looping around the abducens nucleus?

The internal genu of the facial nerve, which contributes to the facial colliculus.

6. What is the nervus intermedius?

The sensory and parasympathetic component of the facial nerve.

7. Which nucleus provides preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the facial nerve?

The superior salivatory nucleus and its associated lacrimal cell group.

8. Which brainstem nucleus receives taste information carried by the facial nerve?

The rostral gustatory portion of the nucleus of the solitary tract.

9. Through which opening does the facial nerve enter the petrous temporal bone?

The internal acoustic meatus, alongside the vestibulocochlear nerve.

10. What are the three principal segments of the facial canal?

The labyrinthine, tympanic, and mastoid segments.

11. Where is the geniculate ganglion located?

At the first bend, or genu, of the facial nerve within the facial canal.

12. What type of neuronal cell bodies are found in the geniculate ganglion?

Primary sensory neurons carrying taste and general somatic sensory information.

13. Which facial nerve branch carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibers toward the pterygopalatine ganglion?

The greater petrosal nerve.

14. Which nerve is formed by the union of the greater petrosal and deep petrosal nerves?

The nerve of the pterygoid canal, also called the Vidian nerve.

15. Which glands receive parasympathetic secretomotor innervation through the pterygopalatine ganglion?

The lacrimal gland and mucosal glands of the nasal cavity and palate.

16. Which small skeletal muscle of the middle ear is supplied by the facial nerve?

The stapedius muscle, through the nerve to stapedius.

17. What auditory symptom may occur following paralysis of the stapedius muscle?

Hyperacusis, an abnormal sensitivity to ordinary sounds.

18. Which facial nerve branch carries taste information from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

The chorda tympani.

19. Which trigeminal nerve branch is joined by the chorda tympani in the infratemporal fossa?

The lingual nerve, a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve.

20. Where do chorda tympani preganglionic parasympathetic fibers synapse?

In the submandibular ganglion.

21. Which salivary glands receive parasympathetic secretomotor innervation through the chorda tympani pathway?

The submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.

22. Through which skull opening does the facial nerve emerge after traversing the facial canal?

The stylomastoid foramen.

23. Which muscles are supplied by branches of the facial nerve immediately after its exit from the stylomastoid foramen?

The posterior auricular muscles, occipital belly of occipitofrontalis, stylohyoid, and posterior belly of digastric.

24. Within which salivary gland does the facial nerve form the parotid plexus?

The parotid gland, which the facial nerve traverses without providing its secretomotor innervation.

25. What are the five principal terminal branches of the facial nerve within the parotid plexus?

Temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical branches.

26. Which facial nerve branch supplies the platysma muscle?

The cervical branch.

27. Which facial nerve branch is particularly vulnerable during surgery near the inferior border of the mandible?

The marginal mandibular branch, which supplies muscles controlling the lower lip.

28. What distinguishes a typical unilateral upper motor neuron facial lesion from a lower motor neuron lesion?

An upper motor neuron lesion mainly weakens the contralateral lower face, while a lower motor neuron lesion weakens the entire ipsilateral face.

29. What is the primary anatomical dysfunction in Bell palsy?

Acute peripheral facial nerve dysfunction causing ipsilateral weakness of the muscles of facial expression.

30. Which cranial nerve provides the efferent limb of the corneal blink reflex?

The facial nerve, through motor innervation of the orbicularis oculi muscle.