Which nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

Taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue travels via the chorda tympani (a branch of the facial nerve, CN VII), which joins the lingual nerve. The lingual nerve itself carries general sensation, not taste.Other options: The lingual nerve carries general (touch) sensation; the glossopharyngeal nerve handles the posterior third (taste and general); the hypoglossal nerve is motor.Key exam takeaway: Anterior two-thirds taste = chorda tympani (CN VII); general sensation = lingual nerve; posterior third = CN IX.