Facial nerve anatomy

Facial nerve nuclei

• The main motor nucleus: in the lower pons
• The superior salivatory nucleus: for parasympathetic functions
• The sensory nucleus: for taste from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue
• The lacrimal nucleus
• The solitary nucleus

Facial nerve sensory branches

Facial nerve secretory branches

Facial nerve terminal motor branches

Facial nerve innervated muscles

Localisation of facial nerve lesions

Functions of the facial nerve

Synonyms

References

1. Portelinha J, Passarinho MP, Costa JM. Neuro-ophthalmological approach to facial nerve palsy. Saudi J Ophthalmol 2015; 29:39-47.
2. Toulgoat F, Sarrazin JL, Benoudiba F, et al. Facial nerve: from anatomy to pathology. Diagn Interv Imaging 2013; 94:1033-1042. 

Related checklists

• Facial nerve palsy: medical causes
• Facial nerve palsy: infectious and inflammatory causes
• Facial nerve palsy: neoplastic and structural causes
• Facial nerve palsy: causes of bilateral palsy
• Facial nerve palsy: causes of recurrent palsy