Which statement about CN VII is true?

• A. It carries general sensory input from the face
• B. It innervates muscles of mastication
• C. It provides taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
• D. It is responsible for hearing

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the facial nerve carries taste from the front part of the tongue. Specifically, taste fibers from the anterior two-thirds travel with the chorda tympani, a branch of CN VII, to reach taste receptors. This makes CN VII the correct choice because it handles special sensory afferents for taste in that region, while other roles described belong to different nerves. General facial sensation is provided by the trigeminal nerve, not CN VII; muscles of mastication are innervated by the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve; hearing involves CN VIII (the vestibulocochlear nerve). So CN VII’s involvement with taste to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is the true statement.