Facial nerve is the 7th cranial nerve( there are 12 cranial nerves) and it is the great motor nerve of the head. It innervates all the muscles of facial expression and several other muscles.

It carries autonomic nerve fibres to the mucous glands of the nose and paranasal sinuses, the lacrimal gland( tear production) and two of the three salivary glands in the oral cavity. Finally, it conveys the sense of taste from the anterior or two thirds of the tongue.