Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Nervus glossopharyngeus
NervousNervesHeadLeft and right
View left in 3D View right in 3D
- What it is
- Leaves the side of the medulla as a row of rootlets, passes through the jugular foramen with the vagus and accessory nerves, descends between the internal carotid artery and jugular vein, winds forward around the stylopharyngeus muscle and ends in the back of the tongue and the tonsil.
- Function
- Taste and sensation from the back third of the tongue, sensation from the pharynx, tonsil and middle ear; motor to stylopharyngeus; saliva from the parotid; and the carotid body/sinus reflexes for blood pressure and oxygen.
- Size
- About 1.5 mm thick, ~9 cm long
- Clinical note
- It carries the sensory side of the gag reflex (the vagus does the motor side). Glossopharyngeal neuralgia gives stabbing throat and ear pain triggered by swallowing.