Sensory innervation to the posterior one third of the tongue is provided by which nerve?

Sensory innervation to the posterior one third of the tongue is provided by which nerve?

• A. Glossopharyngeal nerve
• B. Internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• C. External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
• D. Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Answer: (A)

The posterior third of the tongue is innervated by glossopharyngeal nerve for both general sensation and taste. This nerve carries sensory information from that region to the brain. The other nerves listed govern areas outside the tongue: the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplies laryngeal mucosa above the vocal cords; the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is motor to the cricothyroid; the recurrent laryngeal nerve handles motor to most intrinsic laryngeal muscles and sensory below the vocal cords. So, glossopharyngeal nerve best matches the sensory supply of the posterior one-third of the tongue.

The posterior third of the tongue is innervated by glossopharyngeal nerve for both general sensation and taste. This nerve carries sensory information from that region to the brain. The other nerves listed govern areas outside the tongue: the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplies laryngeal mucosa above the vocal cords; the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve is motor to the cricothyroid; the recurrent laryngeal nerve handles motor to most intrinsic laryngeal muscles and sensory below the vocal cords. So, glossopharyngeal nerve best matches the sensory supply of the posterior one-third of the tongue.