Anatomy & Histology · single question
Taste sensation from the ANTERIOR 2/3 of the tongue is provided by which nerve?
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Correct answer: A. Facial nerve (CN VII)
Facial nerve — CN VII (A), specifically the chorda tympani branch, carries taste from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue. The chorda tympani travels with the lingual nerve (branch of CN V3) but has a different origin (CN VII).
Tongue innervation summary:
• Anterior 2/3 TASTE: Chorda tympani (VII) via lingual nerve
• Anterior 2/3 GENERAL SENSATION: Lingual nerve (V3) — touch, temperature, pain
• Posterior 1/3 TASTE + GENERAL SENSATION: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• MOTOR to intrinsic tongue muscles: Hypoglossal nerve (XII) — exception: palatoglossus (CN X/vagus)
• Hypoglossal (C): motor only — controls tongue movement, no sensory/taste function.
Tongue innervation summary:
• Anterior 2/3 TASTE: Chorda tympani (VII) via lingual nerve
• Anterior 2/3 GENERAL SENSATION: Lingual nerve (V3) — touch, temperature, pain
• Posterior 1/3 TASTE + GENERAL SENSATION: Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)
• MOTOR to intrinsic tongue muscles: Hypoglossal nerve (XII) — exception: palatoglossus (CN X/vagus)
• Hypoglossal (C): motor only — controls tongue movement, no sensory/taste function.
- A. CN V (lingual nerve of V3) provides GENERAL SENSATION to the anterior 2/3 of the tongue — NOT taste. Taste is CN VII.
- B. CN IX provides taste from the POSTERIOR 1/3 of the tongue — not the anterior 2/3.
- C. CN XII provides MOTOR innervation to the tongue muscles — not taste or sensation.
- D. The chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) carries TASTE from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue. General sensation is provided by the lingual nerve (V3). Remember: TASTE from ant. 2/3 = VII (chorda tympani); TASTE from post. 1/3 = IX (glossopharyngeal).
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