The posterior one-third of the tongue is primarily innervated for sensation by which nerve?

Prepare for the Individual Readiness Assurance Test (iRAT) 4 in Head and Neck. Study with multiple-choice questions, comprehensive explanations, and detailed flashcards. Maximize your chances of success with thorough preparation and insightful study resources.

Multiple Choice

The posterior one-third of the tongue is primarily innervated for sensation by which nerve?

The posterior one-third of the tongue is innervated for sensation primarily by the glossopharyngeal nerve. This nerve carries afferent general sensation and taste from that region, traveling to the brainstem to relay the sensory input. In contrast, the lingual nerve (a branch of V3) supplies general sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, not the posterior third; the chorda tympani (a branch of the facial nerve) carries taste from the anterior two-thirds via the lingual nerve. The hypoglossal nerve is motor to tongue muscles, and the vagus nerve provides sensation to nearby areas like the epiglottis and parts of the pharynx, not the primary sensory innervation of the posterior tongue.

The posterior one-third of the tongue is innervated for sensation primarily by the glossopharyngeal nerve. This nerve carries afferent general sensation and taste from that region, traveling to the brainstem to relay the sensory input. In contrast, the lingual nerve (a branch of V3) supplies general sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, not the posterior third; the chorda tympani (a branch of the facial nerve) carries taste from the anterior two-thirds via the lingual nerve. The hypoglossal nerve is motor to tongue muscles, and the vagus nerve provides sensation to nearby areas like the epiglottis and parts of the pharynx, not the primary sensory innervation of the posterior tongue.

More practice questions