Nerves of face and scalp (Anterior view: superficial) (English)

The facial nerve (CN VII) provides motor innervation to the muscles of the face via the temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular and cervical branches. More specifically, these branches supply the stapedius, posterior belly of digastric, the stylohyoid muscle and all the muscles of facial expression. The facial nerve also conveys preganglionic parasympathetic fibers to the geniculate ganglion to innervate all the major glands of the face, except the parotid gland.