Anatomy
Table 1: Distributions and functions of the facial nerve
| Muscles supplied | Sensory nerve distribution | Parasympathetic nervous system functions |
| Facial expression | Taste – anterior two thirds of the tongue | Submandibular gland |
| Scalp | External auditory meatus | Sublingual gland |
| External ear | Soft palate | Lacrimal gland |
| Buccinator | Adjacent pharynx | Nasal |
| Platysma | Palatine glands | |
| Stapedius | ||
| Stylohyoid | ||
| Posterior belly of digastric |
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies motor branches to the muscles of facial expression and supplies some sensory and parasympathetic fibres (see Table 1).
