Anatomy
facial nucleus
fa·cial nu·cle·us
Subclass of:
Tegmental portion of pons
Definitions related to facial nucleus:
  • A region in the pontine tegmentum that is the nucleus of the FACIAL NERVE.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • (facial nerve nucleus) A collection of cell bodies of cranial nerve VII found in the brainstem. There are three nuclei with distinct functions: the facial motor nucleus, which sends muscular efferent nerves to the muscles of facial expression and the stapedius; the superior salivary nucleus, which sends visceral parasympathetic efferent nerves mostly to the lacrimal and salivary glands; and the geniculate ganglion, which receives mostly afferent nerves for taste sensation.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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