Anatomy & Histology · single question
Injury to the chorda tympani nerve — which side will be affected?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Same (ipsilateral) side
- A. The ipsilateral side is immediately affected after chorda tympani injury — symptoms include altered taste and reduced salivation on that side.
- B. The chorda tympani does NOT cross to the opposite side — it supplies the IPSILATERAL anterior tongue and salivary glands.
- C. Chorda tympani injury affects only the IPSILATERAL side — both sides would only be affected if both chorda tympani nerves were injured bilaterally.
- D. The chorda tympani is a branch of CN VII that travels IPSILATERALLY to supply taste to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue and parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular and sublingual glands on the SAME SIDE. Injury to the chorda tympani (e.g., during third molar surgery or middle ear surgery) causes IPSILATERAL loss of taste on the anterior 2/3 of the tongue and reduced salivation from the submandibular and sublingual glands on the same side.
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