In this picture the branches of the facial nerve (CN VII) are in yellow and are pictured over the facial muscles.

Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

In all my research I have never found two identical pictures showing the exact route of the facial nerve. Because of this I have chosen the nicest looking picture (a lot of them are just gross).

TEMPORAL – Top branch going towards the forehead AND under the eye works the raising of the eyebrows, wrinkling of the forehead and helps to gently close your eyes.

ZYGOMATIC – Next branch going towards your nose also goes underneath your eye and enables you to tightly close you eyes.

BUCCAL – Branch going towards the region above the lips produces your smile raising the corners of the mouth and your upper lip.

MANDIBULAR – Branch that goes to the region below the lips and controls all of the expressions that you make with your chin.

CERVICAL – Branch that goes down the neck and controls Platysma, the cords that you can make protrude in your neck. (see “My Progress”)

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