The chorda tympani nerve carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and also carries secretomotor fibers to submandibular and sublingual glands. At which ganglion does the secretomotor preganglionic fiber synapse?

• A Geniculate ganglion
• B Otic ganglion
• C Submandibular ganglion ✓
• D Pterygopalatine ganglion

Explanation

Preganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the superior salivatory nucleus travel in CN VII, leave as the chorda tympani, join the lingual nerve (CN V3), and synapse in the submandibular ganglion. Postganglionic fibers then innervate the submandibular and sublingual glands. The geniculate ganglion is a sensory ganglion of CN VII; the otic ganglion relays parotid secretomotor fibers (from CN IX); the pterygopalatine ganglion relays lacrimal and nasal secretomotor fibers (from CN VII via greater petrosal nerve).

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.