glossopharyngeal nerve

glossopharyngeal nerve

noun

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