Facial Nerve : Mnemonics

Course

Origin: Ponto-medullary junction (Nucleus solitarius, Facial nucleus and Superior salivatory nucleus)

Internal acoustic meatus: 7 up, Coke down

• 7th (Facial nerve) up
• Cochlear nerve (CN VIII) down
• Superior and inferior vestibular nerve (CN VIII) posteriorly

Facial canal:

• Forms Geniculate ganglion
• Gives 3 branches: GSC
  • Greater petrosal nerve (first branch; forms nerve of pterygopalatine ganglion with Deep Petrosal Nerve)
  • Nerve to Stapedius
  • Chorda tympani (taste sensation from anterior 2/3 tongue, sublingular and submandibular gland)

After exiting skull from stylomastoid foramen:

• 3 branches before entering the parotid gland: PDS
  • Posterior auricular nerve
  • Digastric branch (Posterior belly of digastric)
  • Stylohyoid branch
• 5 branches within the parotid gland (most superficial structure passing through parotid): Tum Zyada Bakbak Mat Karo (innervates the muscles of facial expression)
  • Tympanic
  • Zygomatic
  • Buccal
  • Marginal mandibular
  • Cervical (least important branch – supplies platysma)

Further reading:

Facial Nerve Anatomy

See more

Facial nerve lesions

1. Supranuclear lesion: Contralateral lower 1/2 face paralyzed; forehead wrinkling spared (Bilateral cortical innervation)

2. Infranuclear lesion: Entire face paralyzed on same size

• At or just above stylomastoid foramen: Bell’s palsy
• Above origin of chorda tympani: Bell’s palsy + Reduced salivation and loss of taste from anterior 2/3 tongue
• Above origin of nerve to stapedius: Above + Hyperacusis
• At geniculate ganglion: Above + Reduced lacrimation