Facial nerve : intracranial and extracranial branches

 Facial nerve 

For learning anatomy, please visit :

My youtube channel :  @easyhumanatomy73

My website : http://easyhumananatomy.com

My facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/easyhumanatomy/

My blog: http://www.easyhumanatomy73.blogspot.com

My blog:  Difference between : http://www.microscopicanatomybd.blogspot.com

Intracranial segment intracranial and extracranial branches 

Within the facial canal	Innervation
1.       Greater petrosal nerve	arises at the superior salivatory nucleus of the pons and provides parasympathetic innervation to several glands, including the nasal glands, the palatine glands, the lacrimal gland, and the pharyngeal gland. It also provides parasympathetic innervation to the sphenoid sinus, frontal sinus, maxillary sinus, ethmoid sinus, and nasal cavity. This nerve also includes taste fibers for the palate via the lesser palatine nerve and greater palatine nerve.
2.       The nerve to the stapedius	provides motor innervation for the stapedius muscle in middle ear
3.       The chorda tympani	provides parasympathetic innervation to the sublingual and submandibular glands, as well as special sensory taste fibers for the anterior two thirds of the tongue

 

Extracranial segment

At it’s exit from stylomastoid foramen	Innervation
4.       Posterior auricular	nerve which controls movements of some of the scalp muscles around the ear
5.       Nerve to Digastric	Digastric muscle
6.       Nerve to stylohyloid	Stylohyloid muscle

 

 

Terminal branches within the parotid gland

1.       temporal

2.       zygomatic

3.       buccal

4.       mandibular

5.       cervical

Communicating branches with trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves