The lingual nerve serves two primary functions: taste sensation from the front of the tongue and control of salivary gland secretions.
Taste Perception
- The lingual nerve carries special visceral afferent (SVA) fibers originating from the chorda tympani.
- These fibers are responsible for taste perception in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue [3].
- Essentially, it allows you to taste flavors on the front part of your tongue.
Salivary Gland Control
- The lingual nerve also carries general visceral efferent (GVE) fibers.
- These fibers are responsible for secretory and motor innervation of the sublingual and submandibular glands [3].
- This means it controls the activity of the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands, which are major contributors to saliva production in your mouth.
In summary, the lingual nerve is crucial for both taste sensation and saliva production.
