Chorda Tympani

Chorda Tympani

Describe the chorda tympani nerve in brief.
Answer.

Chorda Tympani Nerve Origin The chorda tympani nerve is a branch of the facial nerve. It arises from the facial nerve at about 6 mm above the stylomastoid foramen.

Chorda Tympani Nerve Functional components

• General visceral ef event (GVE) fibres (i.e. postganglionic parasympathetic fibres), provide secretomotor supply to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.
• Special visceral af event (SVA) fibres, which carry taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, except from vallate papillae.

Chorda Tympani Nerve Course

Arises from the vertical part of the facial nerve → enters the middle ear through posterior canaliculus → runs across the lateral wall of middle ear → enters anterior canaliculus → enters infratemporal fossa through petrotympanic fissure → crosses medial aspect of spine of sphenoid → joins lingual nerve.

Chorda Tympani Nerve Applied anatomy The lesions of the chorda tympani nerve lead to:

• Decrease in the production of saliva
• Loss of taste sensations in the anterior two-third of the tongue