Structure and Location
- Located close to the internal auditory meatus
- Covered superiorly by the petrous part of the temporal bone
- Receives fibers from the motor, sensory, and parasympathetic components of the facial nerve
- Contains special sensory neuronal cell bodies for taste
- Sensory and parasympathetic inputs are carried into the geniculate ganglion via the nervus intermedius

Function
- Provides parasympathetic innervation to the lacrimal glands, submandibular glands, and sublingual glands
- Provides special sensory innervation to the tongue for taste
- Provides general sensory innervation to the skin of the posterior ear
- Provides somatic (branchial) motor innervation to the palate, pharynx, external auditory meatus, stapedius muscle, posterior belly of the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, and muscles of facial expression

Clinical Significance
- Important surgical landmark near the internal auditory meatus
- May become inflamed due to viral infection by herpes zoster virus

Additional Images
- Plan of the facial and intermediate nerves and their communication with other nerves

Related Concepts
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome type II