Anatomy

Bell’s Palsy in Children Facial Nerve Paralysis Anatomy

Table 1: Distributions and functions of the facial nerve
Muscles supplied	Sensory nerve distribution	Parasympathetic nervous system functions
Facial expression	Taste – anterior two thirds of the tongue	Submandibular gland
Scalp	External auditory meatus	Sublingual gland
External ear	Soft palate	Lacrimal gland
Buccinator	Adjacent pharynx	Nasal
Platysma		Palatine glands
Stapedius
Stylohyoid
Posterior belly of digastric

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) supplies motor branches to the muscles of facial expression and supplies some sensory and parasympathetic fibres (see Table 1).

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