The chorda tympani nerve joins the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa. It is a branch of which cranial nerve, and what does it carry?

• A CN V3; carries general somatic sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
• B CN IX; carries taste from posterior one-third of tongue and parasympathetic to parotid
• C CN VII; carries motor fibers to the mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric
• D CN VII; carries taste (special visceral afferent) from anterior two-thirds of tongue and preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to submandibular ganglion ✓

Explanation

The chorda tympani is a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) that leaves the facial canal via the petrotympanic fissure and joins the lingual nerve (CN V3) in the infratemporal fossa. It carries two functional components: (1) special visceral afferent (SVA) fibers for taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue; (2) general visceral efferent (GVE) preganglionic parasympathetic fibers that synapse in the submandibular ganglion and provide secretomotor innervation to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. The chorda tympani does NOT carry general somatic sensation (that is from lingual nerve proper, V3).

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

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.