Head and neck: facial nerve branches: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Head and neck: facial nerve branches

Sample item

After middle ear surgery a patient loses taste over the anterior two-thirds of the tongue on one side and has reduced salivation from the submandibular gland. Which nerve branch was injured?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Chorda tympani

The chorda tympani leaves the facial nerve in the temporal bone, crosses the tympanic cavity, and joins the lingual nerve. It carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and secretomotor fibres to the submandibular and sublingual glands.

Option by option

  • A. Glossopharyngeal nerve

    The glossopharyngeal nerve carries taste from the posterior third of the tongue.

  • B. Chorda tympani (correct)

    Correct. It passes across the middle ear and is therefore vulnerable during ear surgery.

  • C. Greater petrosal nerve

    The greater petrosal nerve carries secretomotor fibres to the lacrimal gland and nasal and palatine glands, and some palatal taste.

  • D. Lesser petrosal nerve

    The lesser petrosal nerve carries parasympathetic fibres from the glossopharyngeal nerve to the parotid gland.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Chorda tympani. The chorda tympani leaves the facial nerve in the temporal bone, crosses the tympanic cavity, and joins the lingual nerve.

Why is "Glossopharyngeal nerve" not the answer?

The glossopharyngeal nerve carries taste from the posterior third of the tongue.

Why is "Greater petrosal nerve" not the answer?

The greater petrosal nerve carries secretomotor fibres to the lacrimal gland and nasal and palatine glands, and some palatal taste.

Why is "Lesser petrosal nerve" not the answer?

The lesser petrosal nerve carries parasympathetic fibres from the glossopharyngeal nerve to the parotid gland.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: facial nerve branches in Anatomy. It carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and secretomotor fibres to the submandibular and sublingual glands.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Head and neck: facial nerve branches?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.