Facial Nerves (VII)

The "facial"nerves" are the seventh pair of cranial nerves and are, therefore, numbered "VII." They arise from the lower part of the pons at the base of the brain stem and emerge on the sides of the face. Their sensory branches are associated with taste receptors on the front two-thirds of the tongue, and some of the motor fibers send impulses to muscles for facial expressions. Other fibers function involuntarily by stimulating the tear gland and some saliva glands (submandibular, sublingual, and parotid salivary glands). The facial nerves from the brow to the throat under the chin include: (1) the temporal nerve, (2) the zygomatic nerve, (3) the buccal nerve, (4) the facial nerve, (4) the posterior auricular nerve, (5) mandibular nerve, and (6) the cervical nerve.