The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve (CN VII), is an important nerve in the human body responsible for controlling various facial muscles. The facial nerve is essential for facial expression, the sense of taste, and certain functions related to hearing and balance.

Here is a detailed overview of the facial nerve, its functions, anatomy, and related conditions:

Functions of the facial nerve:

Engine function:

The main function of the facial nerve is to control facial expression muscles. It stimulates the muscles that allow us to smile, frown, close our eyes, move our lips, and make many other facial movements.

Taste sensation:

The facial nerve carries taste information from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, including the taste buds for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes.

Salivary glands:

The facial nerve also innervates the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, which are responsible for the production and digestion of saliva.

Tear glands and nasal glands:

It controls the lacrimal (tear) and nasal glands, contributing to tearing and the production of nasal secretions.

The Facial Nerve or Cranial Nerve VII is the nerve involved with Bell's Palsy.

The facial muscles are innervated by facial nerve (cranial nerve VII). In contrast, the nearby masticatory muscles are innervated by the mandibular nerve, a branch of thetrigeminal nerve (V).

Facial Nerve (VII)

Facial nerve, the seventh cranial nerve. It leaves the brain along with eighths cranial nerve through internal acoustic meatus and comes out through stylomastoid foramen to supply the muscles of facial expression.