Chorda Tympani

The Chorda Tympani is a branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that provides taste sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, as well as carrying parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. The Chorda Tympani nerve emerges from the facial nerve in the temporal bone and passes through the middle ear before entering the infratemporal fossa. It then travels alongside the lingual nerve, which is a branch of the mandibular nerve (V3), until it reaches the submandibular ganglion, where it synapses with postganglionic parasympathetic neurons. These neurons then innervate the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, stimulating the production of saliva. In addition to carrying parasympathetic fibers, the Chorda Tympani also carries special sensory fibers responsible for taste sensation. These fibers originate from the taste buds located on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and travel through the Chorda Tympani before synapsing with neurons in the brainstem responsible for processing taste information. Damage to the Chorda Tympani can result in taste disturbances in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, as well as a decrease in saliva production from the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Causes of damage can include trauma, infections, tumors, or other neurological disorders.