the seventh cranial nerve, supplying the muscles controlling facial expression, glands of the palate and nose, and the taste buds in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
facial nerve in American English
noun
Anatomy
either one of the seventh pair of cranial nerves composed of motor fibers that controlmuscles of the face except those used in chewing
Word origin
[1810–20]This word is first recorded in the period 1810–20. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: keyboard, knockout, realism, technique, voodoo
Examples of 'facial nerve' in a sentence
facial nerve
She underwent more surgery last year to repair her damaged facial nerve.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Tests revealed she had facial nerve damage.
The Sun (2013)
A junior doctor used forceps during his birth, severing a facial nerve and giving him his distinctive drooping lower lip.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A small, handheld device, called a cryoprobe, channels liquid nitrogen through a sealed needle to the facial nerves at the temples.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The research found no benefit to operating on healthy impacted teeth and also that the procedure carried significant risks, such as damage to facial nerves.