NEET PG Medical – 2016 – Question – 13
Facial nerve is a derivative of which of the following branchial arch?
a) First arch
b) Second arch
c) Third arch
d) Fourth arch
Show Answer
Correct Answer – B
Facial nerve is a derivative of second branchial arch. Muscles of facial expression derived from it are buccinator, auricularis, frontalis, platysma, orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi. Additional muscles supplied by it are stapedius, stylohyoid, and posterior belly of digastric.
| Branchial arch |
Cranial nerve | Muscles |
| First mandibular | Trigeminal | Muscles of mastication: masseter, temporalis, medial and lateral pterygoid. Additional muscles: mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, tensor tympani, tensor veli palatini |
| Third | Glossopharyngeal | Stylopharyngeus |
| Fourth and sixth | Superior laryngeal, recurrent laryngeal branches of vagus | Pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles: cricothyroid, levator veli palatini, constrictors of pharynx, intrinsic muscles of larynx |
Ref: Neuroscience for the Study of Communicative Disorders By Subhash Chandra Bhatnagar page 279.
