Introduction

The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve and has motor, sensory and parasympathetic function. This set of paired nerves predominantly controls the muscles of facial expression and supplies taste sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. In addition the facial nerve supplies preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to several head and neck ganglia. A common problem associated with the facial nerve is Bell’s Palsy. 

There are twelve pairs of crainial nerves whose functions vary including; motor, sensory, secretomotor and parasympathetic. Each innervates specific regions of the head and neck, the only nerve to venture further than the neck is the vagus nerve. In named order the cranial nerves exit the brain through foramina and fissures in the skull.

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Facial nerve