Which nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the submandibular and sublingual glands?

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Parasympathetic supply to the submandibular and sublingual glands comes from the facial nerve through the chorda tympani. The preganglionic parasympathetic fibers originate in the superior salivatory nucleus, travel with the facial nerve, then join the chorda tympani and synapse in the submandibular ganglion. From there, the postganglionic fibers hitchhike on the lingual nerve to reach the submandibular and sublingual glands, stimulating saliva production.

This path fits these glands best because the submandibular and sublingual glands are innervated by parasympathetic fibers that ride with the facial nerve via the chorda tympani to the submandibular ganglion, unlike the other nerves listed. The glossopharyngeal nerve via lesser petrosal to otic ganglion serves the parotid gland, not these two. The vagus nerve and the hypoglossal nerve do not provide parasympathetic innervation to these salivary glands.