The Facial Nerve

Question 1

facial nerve (VII):

nerve of the ___ branchial arch

emerges w/ the vestibulocochlear nerve from the lower lateral part of the ___

consists of two distinct parts (2)

Answer 1

second

pons

facial nerve proper
nervus intermedius

Question 2

facial nerve (VII):
facial nerve proper:

pure (sensory/motor) nerve

sends these branches to four muscles (4)

Answer 2

motor

muscles of facial expression
stapedius
stylohyoid
posterior belly of the digastric muscle

Question 3

facial nerve (VII):
nervus intermedius:

named b/c of its position b/n the ___ & the ___ nerve

contains the following fiber types (3)

Answer 3

facial nerve proper
vestibulocochlear nerve

taste fibers
preganglionic parasympathetic fibers
some general sensory fibers

Question 4

general course of the facial nerve:

enters the ___ meatus accompanied by the ___ nerve

it then enters the ___ canal & courses laterally through the ___ portion of the ___ bone until it reaches the cavity of the ___ (___ cavity)

at this point, the facial nerve turns sharply backward forming a ___ bend

Answer 4

internal acoustic meatus
vestibulocochlear nerve

facial canal
petrous portion
temporal bone
cavity of the middle ear (tympanic cavity)

knee-shaped

Question 5

general course of the facial nerve:

the knee-shaped bend (___) is enlarged & contains the (senroy/motor) ganglion of the facial nerve, the ___ ganglion

when it reaches the posterior wall of the middle ear cavity, the facial nerve turns sharply downward & leaves the skull through the ___ foramen

Answer 5

genu
sensory ganglion
geniculate ganglion

stylomastoid foramen

Question 6

facial nerve proper:

while in the facial canal, it sends a branch to the ___ muscle

on emerging from the ___ foramen, the facial nerve proper sends two branches off immediately:

• ___: to facial muscles behind the ear
• ___

Answer 6

stapedius

stylomastoid foramen

• posterior auricular branch
• branch to the stylohyoid & posterior belly of the digastric

Question 7

facial nerve proper:

the main trunk of the nerve enters the substance of the ___ gland & gives origin to its five terminal branches, which supply the muscles of ___ (5)

Answer 7

parotid
facial expression

temporal
zygomatic
buccal
mandibular
cervical

Question 8

nervus intermedius:

contains three fibers (3)

___ fibers of the facial nreve can be ignored

Answer 8

taste fibers
preganglionic parasympathetic fibers
some general sensory fibers

general sensory fibers

Question 9

nervus intermedius:

all sensory fibers (___ & ___) have their cell bodies (pseudounipolar neurons) in the ___ ganglion

the peripheral processes of the taste fibers as well as the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers proceed in the two peripheral branches of the nervus intermedius (2)

Answer 9

taste & general sensory
geniculate ganglion

greater petrosal nerve
chorda tympani

Question 10

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

given off at the level of the ___ ganglion

proceeds anteriorly & enters the ___ fossa at the ___

Answer 10

geniculate ganglion

middle cranial fossa
hiatus of the greater petrosal nerve

Question 11

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

it crosses the ___ & enters the ___ canal where it is joined by the ___ nerve

this nerve consists of (pre/post-ganglionic) (symp/parasymp) fibers from the ___ plexus

Answer 11

foramen lacerum
pterygoid canal
deep petrosal nerve

postganglionic sympathetic fibers
internal carotid plexus

Question 12

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

the greater petrosal nerve & deep petrosal nerve constitute the nerve of the ___ canal

both nerves pass into the ___ fossa

Answer 12

nerve of the pterygoid canal

pterygopalatine fossa

Question 13

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

the deep petrosal nerve passes through the ___ ganglion w/o synapsing & provides all branches of the ___ division of the ___ nerve w/ (pre/post-ganglionic) (symp/parasymp) fibers

Answer 13

pterygopalatine ganglion
maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve
postganglionic sympathetic fibers

Question 14

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

the preganglionic parasympathetic fibers of the greater petrosal nerve synapse in the ___ ganglion

the postganglionic parasympathetic fibers originating in this ganglion join seven nerves (7)

Answer 14

pterygopalatine ganglion

• greater & lesser palatine nerves
• posterior nasal branches
• nasopalatine nerve
• pharyngeal nerve
• orbital branches
• zygomatic nerve (which ultiamtely passes them off to the lacrimal nerve (V1))
• superior alveolar nerves

Question 15

nervus intermedius:
greater petrosal nerve:

the taste fibers of the greater petrosal nerve pass through the ___ ganglion w/o synapsing & join the ___ nerves to supply taste buds of the palate

Answer 15

pterygopalatine ganglion

greater & lesser palatine nerves

Question 16

nervus intermedius:
chorda tympani:

continues its course w/ the facial nerve through the ___ canal

just before the facial nerve reaches the ___ foramen, the chorda tympani departs & enters the ___ cavity

Answer 16

facial

stylomastoid foramen
tympanic cavity

Question 17

nervus intermedius:
chorda tympani:

it runs forward over the inner surface of the ___ membrane & crosses the handle of the ___ (the shadow of the nerve can be seen through the membrane)

it leaves the ___ cavity through the ___ fissure & enters the ___ fossa & joins the ___ nerve

Answer 17

tympanic membrane
handle of the malleus

tympanic cavity
petrotympanic fissure
infratemporal fossa
lingual nerve

Question 18

nervus intermedius:
chorda tympani:

its taste fibers are distributed to the taste buds of the ___

its preganglionic parasympathetic fibers synapse w/ postganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the ___ ganglion which is suspended from the ___ nerve by communicating branches

the postganglionic parasympathetic fibers either proceed to the ___ gland or pass forward along the ___ nerve to be distributed to the ___ & ___ glands

Answer 18

anterior two-thirds of the tongue

submandibular ganglion
lingual nerve

submandibular gland
lingual nerve
sublingual & lingual salivary glands

Question 19

lesion of the facial nerve:

the symptoms of damage to the facial nerve depend upon ___

Answer 19

where along the course of the facial nerve the damage occurs

Question 20

lesion of the facial nerve:
at the level of the stylomastoid foramen:

this is the most common site of a lesion & is known as ___

all of the muscles of facial expression on the ipsilateral side are ___, but glandular & taste functions of the facial nerve ___

the patient cannot close the ___

the potential for irritation of the ___ is great

the corner of the mouth & lip on the affected side ___, allowing saliva to drip down the face

paralysis of the ___ muscle allows food to accumulate b/n the cheek & the gum

Answer 20

bell’s palsy

paralyzed
remain intact

eyelid

cornea

droop

buccinator muscle

Question 21

lesion of the facial nerve:
lesion in the facial canal b/n the departure of the chorda tympani & the nerve to the stapedius:

all of the symptoms at the level of the ___ foramen

plus loss of ___ on the ___ & reduced ___

Answer 21

stylomastoid foramen

taste
anterior two-thirds of the tongue
salivation

Question 22

lesion of the facial nerve:
lesion proximal to the departure of the nerve to the stapedius:

all of the effects of the ___ foramen & the ___ canal

plus ___ (increased sensitivity to sound)

Answer 22

stylomastoid foramen
facial canal

hyperacusis

Question 23

lesion of the facial nerve:
lesion of the entire nerve at the level of the internal acoustic meatus:

all of the effects of the ___ foramen, the ___ canal, & proximal to the departure of the nerve to the ___

plus loss of ___ secretion (tears) & loss of ___ on the palate

Answer 23

stylomastoid foramen
facial canal
stapedius

lacrimal secretion
taste