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