Which cranial nerve carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

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

Answer: (A)

Taste from the front two-thirds of the tongue is carried by the chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve. These taste fibers are special visceral afferent and travel with the lingual nerve to reach the brain, where they relay taste to the solitary nucleus in the brainstem. The facial nerve also provides parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular and sublingual glands via the submandibular ganglion, which helps explain the broader role of this nerve. Taste from the back one-third of the tongue is carried by the glossopharyngeal nerve, while the hypoglossal nerve controls tongue muscles and does not carry taste.