Which functions are associated with the facial nerve (VII)?

Which functions are associated with the facial nerve (VII)?

• A. Hearing and balance
• B. Tongue movement
• C. Taste and facial expression
• D. General sensation

Answer: (C)

The facial nerve carries multiple functional modalities, including motor control of muscles of facial expression and special sensory taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue (via the chorda tympani). It also provides parasympathetic output to lacrimal and some salivary glands. It does not handle hearing and balance (that’s the vestibulocochlear nerve), general facial sensation (that’s trigeminal), or intrinsic tongue movement (that’s the hypoglossal nerve). So taste and facial expression best reflects the combined roles of the facial nerve.

The facial nerve carries multiple functional modalities, including motor control of muscles of facial expression and special sensory taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue (via the chorda tympani). It also provides parasympathetic output to lacrimal and some salivary glands. It does not handle hearing and balance (that’s the vestibulocochlear nerve), general facial sensation (that’s trigeminal), or intrinsic tongue movement (that’s the hypoglossal nerve). So taste and facial expression best reflects the combined roles of the facial nerve.