Taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue travels via which nerve branch?

• A. Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
• B. Vagus nerve (CN X)
• C. Chorda tympani (branch of CN VII)
• D. Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)

Answer: (C)

Taste from the front two-thirds of the tongue is carried by the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve. The chorda tympani carries special sensory (taste) fibers and travels with the lingual nerve (the branch of V3) to reach the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. This pathway explains why damage to the facial nerve or chorda tympani can alter taste in that area. In contrast, taste from the posterior third of the tongue is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the hypoglossal nerve is involved in tongue movement rather than taste. The vagus nerve contributes taste to regions like the epiglottis.