Taste sensation for the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is mediated by which cranial nerve?

• A. CN VII
• B. CN IX
• C. CN X
• D. CN V

Answer: (A)

Taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is carried by the facial nerve via the chorda tympani. These taste fibers join the lingual nerve (the V3 branch that supplies general sensation to that area) and convey information to the brainstem, synapsing in the solitary nucleus before reaching the gustatory cortex. The posterior one-third is served by the glossopharyngeal nerve, and taste from the epiglottis area by the vagus nerve, while general sensation there comes from the trigeminal nerve but not taste. So the facial nerve is responsible for this region’s taste.