glossopalatine nerve
Quick Summary
The glossopalatine nerve, also known as the intermediate nerve, is a component of the facial nerve (CN VII). It carries sensory and autonomic fibers.
The glossopalatine nerve contains:
* General visceral efferent fibers: These originate from the superior salivatory nucleus in the pons and innervate the nasal, palatine, lacrimal, submandibular, and sublingual glands.
* General somatic afferent fibers: These relay sensation from the back of the ear.
* Special visceral afferent fibers: These transmit taste sensation from the front two-thirds of the tongue.
The cell bodies for these sensory fibers are located in the geniculate ganglion. Damage to the facial nerve can affect taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.12
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