facial nerve

facial nerve

n.

Either of the seventh pair of cranial nerves that control facial muscles and relay sensation from the taste buds of the front part of the tongue.

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facial nerve

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) the seventh cranial nerve, supplying the muscles controlling facial expression, glands of the palate and nose, and the taste buds in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

facial nerve - cranial nerve that supplies facial muscles facial, nervus facialis, seventh cranial nerve cranial nerve - any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem face, human face - the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear; "he washed his face"; "I wish I had seen the look on his face when he got the news"