1 glossopharyngeal nerve | Definition of glossopharyngeal nerve

glossopharyngeal nerve

noun
glos·​so·​pha·​ryn·​geal nerve | \ ˌglä-sō-ˌfer-ən-ˈjē-əl- How to pronounce glossopharyngeal nerve (audio) , ˌglȯ-, -fə-ˈrin-j(ē-)əl-\

Definition of glossopharyngeal nerve

: either of the ninth pair of cranial nerves that are mixed nerves and supply chiefly the pharynx, posterior tongue, and parotid gland

called also glossopharyngeal

Examples of glossopharyngeal nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are two cranial nerves responsible for taste perception in different areas of the tongue: the glossopharyngeal nerve in the back and the chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve in the front. Steven D Munger, Smithsonian, "The Taste Map of the Tongue You Learned in School Is All Wrong," 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glossopharyngeal nerve.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of glossopharyngeal nerve

circa 1823, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for glossopharyngeal nerve

glossopharyngeal nerve

noun

Medical Definition of glossopharyngeal nerve

: a mixed nerve that is either of the ninth pair of cranial nerves, that has sensory fibers arising from the superior and petrosal ganglia and motor fibers arising with those of the vagus nerve from the lateral wall of the medulla, and that supplies chiefly the pharynx, posterior tongue, and parotid gland with motor and sensory fibers including gustatory and autonomic secretory and vasodilator fibers

called also glossopharyngeal, ninth cranial nerve

More from Merriam-Webster on glossopharyngeal nerve

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about glossopharyngeal nerve