Which cranial nerve is responsible for taste in the posterior third of the tongue?

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Prepare for the SkillsUSA Health Knowledge Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which cranial nerve is responsible for taste in the posterior third of the tongue?

Explanation:
The taste fibers from the posterior third of the tongue travel with the glossopharyngeal nerve. Signals from taste buds in that region go to the brainstem via IX, reaching the nucleus of the solitary tract. This contrasts with taste from the front two-thirds of the tongue, which uses the facial nerve (via the chorda tympani), and with the vagus, which supplies taste from the epiglottis and parts of the pharynx. The trigeminal nerve provides general somatic sensation (not taste) to the tongue. So, for the posterior third, the glossopharyngeal nerve is the one that carries the taste information.

The taste fibers from the posterior third of the tongue travel with the glossopharyngeal nerve. Signals from taste buds in that region go to the brainstem via IX, reaching the nucleus of the solitary tract. This contrasts with taste from the front two-thirds of the tongue, which uses the facial nerve (via the chorda tympani), and with the vagus, which supplies taste from the epiglottis and parts of the pharynx. The trigeminal nerve provides general somatic sensation (not taste) to the tongue. So, for the posterior third, the glossopharyngeal nerve is the one that carries the taste information.

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