Answer
The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve (CN VII). It is a mixed nerve with five branches, temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical. The neurons of the facial nerve are involved in almost all activities that take place in the head, Therefore, it is sometimes designated the major nerve of the head.
Work Step by Step
The facial nerve supplies the muscles of facial expression. It aso innervates eyes, nose, skin of face, and tongue. Its neurons function in the perception of taste, touch, thermal sensation, secretion of tears, and saliva.
Damage to the facial nerve (by trauma , tumor, stroke, infection,or diabetes ) results in paralysis of the muscles of facial expression, decreased salivation, loss of taste, and inability to close the eyes. These are some of the condition called Bell's palsy.
