Facial Nerve Anatomy — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateAnatomy (Head & Neck)Facial Nerve AnatomyMFDS Part 1

During an antegrade superficial parotidectomy, which nerve is identified as it exits the skull and then traced through the parotid gland before glandular tissue is divided?

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Correct answer: B — Facial nerve

The correct answer is B, the facial nerve. Its main trunk emerges from the stylomastoid foramen, enters the posteromedial aspect of the parotid gland and divides within the gland into terminal branches. In an antegrade parotidectomy, the trunk is identified and the branches are traced to permit removal of glandular tissue while minimising the risk of postoperative facial weakness or palsy. The lingual nerve is related to the infratemporal and submandibular regions, while the hypoglossal nerve supplies the tongue and runs in the upper neck. The accessory nerve is principally related to sternocleidomastoid and the posterior triangle. The auriculotemporal nerve conveys sensory and postganglionic secretomotor fibres but is not the principal motor nerve dissected and preserved during parotidectomy.

Reference: Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. Parotidectomy surgery, section 'What does it involve?', revised July 2023. https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/GET/d10363870