During this journey, the facial nerve gives rise to different branches, which allow it to reach various muscles (eg: the stapedius muscle of the ear and the muscles on which facial mimic depends) different glands (eg: the mucous glands of the nose and the lacrimal glands) and the anterior 2/3 of the tongue.
, which originate from the brain and connect it to different regions of the head, neck and trunk.
- Motor (or efferent) nerves. The nerves intended to control muscles and glands are motor;
- Sensory (or afferent) nerves. The nerves responsible for controlling the sensitivity of the organs of the body, in particular the skin, sense organs and mucous areas, are sensitive;
- Mixed nerves, i.e. they play the role of both motor and sensory nerves.
Remember that the word "nerve" identifies a grouping of several axons; also known as neuritis or nerve fiber, the axon is the characteristic extension of the nerve cell (or neuron), which allows the latter to communicate with other nerve cells or organs located even at long distances.
); moreover, it is symmetrical (N.B: not all cranial nerves are symmetrical).
The facial nerve arises at the level of the brainstem; from here, it goes into the posterior cranial fossa and crosses it, to reach the temporal bone and enter the facial canal of the aforementioned cranial bone.
Once the entire facial canal has been crossed, the facial nerve exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen (or stylomastoid foramen), an opening always located on the temporal bone.
Once outside the skull, the facial nerve makes a curve forward, so as to pass anteriorly to the external ear, and starts in the direction of the parotid gland, which it crosses without innervating it; after crossing the parotid gland , the course of the facial nerve can be considered concluded.
During this complex journey, the facial nerve gives rise to different branches (or branches), which spread its motor and sensory fibers in the various target areas.
