Anatomical studies on the cranial nerves of fully formed embryonic stage of Liza ramada (Risso, 1827). II.Nervus Facialis

This study deals with the facial nerve of the bony fish Liza ramada. The nervus facialis arises from the medulla oblongata by one root. It fuses with the anteroventeral lateral line nerve forming commen nerve. The geniculate ganglion is located intracranially, from which arises the ramus palatinus as two rami. The nervus facialis exits from the cranial cavity through the facial foramen. The ramus palatinus innervates the submucosa of the roof of the mouth, the epithelial lining of the palate and the taste buds. The truncus hyomandibularis gives off the ramus opercularis to the adductor arcus palatini and the adductor hyomandibularis muscles. Then, it divides into the ramus hyoideus ventrally and the ramus mandibularis facialis dorsally. The ramus hyoideus innervates the opercular skin, the branchiostegal membrane, the skin covering the posterior intermandibularis muscle, the neuromasts of the opercular lateral line canal and the muscles superior hyoideus, inferior hyoideus and interhyoideus. The ramus mandibularis innervates the anterior and the posterior intermandibularis muscles, the tissues found lateral to the dentary bone, the floor of the mouth and the taste buds of the lower jaw.