The chorda tympani nerve carries which functional components, and through which foramen does it exit the skull?

• A General sensation from anterior 2/3 tongue; exits via foramen ovale
• B Taste from posterior 1/3 tongue; exits via stylomastoid foramen
• C Motor to mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric; exits via petrotympanic fissure
• D Taste from anterior 2/3 tongue and preganglionic parasympathetic to submandibular/sublingual glands; exits via petrotympanic fissure ✓

Explanation

The chorda tympani is a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) that carries two functional components: (1) special visceral afferent (SVA) — taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue via the lingual nerve; (2) general visceral efferent (GVE) — preganglionic parasympathetic fibers that synapse in the submandibular ganglion to supply secretomotor fibers to the submandibular and sublingual glands. It passes through the middle ear and exits the skull via the petrotympanic fissure. General sensation from anterior tongue is via the lingual branch of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).

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

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.