Question

Which cranial nerve allows us to chew food?

• A. Facial
• B. Abducens
• C. Trochlear
• D. Trigeminal

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Trigeminal

There are 12 cranial nerves, 10 of which emerge directly from the brain stem. These nerves are responsible for a number of sensory functions - sight, hearing, smell, taste - and innervate muscles in the face and throat that control functions such as eye and tongue movement, chewing, swallowing and facial expression. The fifth cranial nerve, also called the trigeminal nerve, supplies the facial muscles used for chewing where as the seventh cranial nerve, also called the facial nerve, supplies the muscles used in facial expressions such as smiling.