GROSS ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve (CN VII). It arises from the brain stem and extends posteriorly to the abducens nerve and anteriorly to the vestibulocochlear nerve.

Detailed explanation-2: -The facial nerve is the 7th cranial nerve and carries nerve fibers that control facial movement and expression. The facial nerve also carries nerves that are involved in taste to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue and producing tears (lacrimal gland).

Detailed explanation-3: -Ask the patient to look up or wrinkle the forehead; inspect for asymmetry. Ask him or her to close the eyes tightly. Look for incomplete closure or incomplete “burying” of the eyelashes on the affected side. Observe the nasolabial folds and mouth while the patient is concentrating on the eyes.

Detailed explanation-4: -A nerve that runs from the brainstem, through openings in the skull, to the face and tongue. The seventh cranial nerve sends information between the brain and the muscles used in facial expression (such as smiling and frowning), some muscles in the jaw, and the muscles of a small bone in the middle ear.

Detailed explanation-5: -The chorda tympani provides taste sensation from the anterior 2/3 tongue and also carries preganglionic parasympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.