Chorda tympani

Chorda Tympani

The Chorda Tympani (/kɔːrdə tɪmˈpæni/; from Latin chorda, meaning "string", and tympani, meaning "drum") is a nerve that branches off from the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) inside the facial canal, at the level of the labyrinth in the inner ear.

Anatomy

The Chorda Tympani is approximately 2.5 cm long and travels through the middle ear and then between the malleus and the incus, two of the ossicles. It exits the skull via the petrosal bone and joins the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa.

Function

The Chorda Tympani carries taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue via the lingual nerve. It also carries parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular ganglion, and secretomotor fibers to the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the Chorda Tympani can result in a loss of taste sensation in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, a condition known as ageusia. It can also cause a decrease in salivation, leading to a dry mouth, or xerostomia.

See Also

• Facial Nerve
• Lingual Nerve
• Middle Ear
• Ossicles
• Petrosal Bone

This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.