The chorda tympani nerve enters the infratemporal fossa through the petrotympanic fissure and joins the lingual nerve. The chorda tympani carries which modalities?

• A Taste from anterior two-thirds of tongue AND preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to submandibular ganglion ✓
• B General sensation from anterior two-thirds of tongue AND taste from posterior one-third
• C Motor fibers to the mylohyoid AND taste from anterior two-thirds
• D Preganglionic parasympathetic to the otic ganglion AND taste from posterior one-third of tongue

Explanation

The chorda tympani (a branch of the facial nerve, CN VII) carries two functional components: (1) special visceral afferent (SVA) — taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue (fungiform papillae), with cell bodies in the geniculate ganglion; and (2) general visceral efferent (GVE) — preganglionic parasympathetic fibers that synapse in the submandibular ganglion to supply submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. General sensation from the anterior two-thirds is carried by the lingual nerve (CN V3). Motor to mylohyoid comes from the nerve to mylohyoid, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve. The otic ganglion is innervated by CN IX via the lesser petrosal nerve.

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

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.