The ninth cranial or glossopharyngeal nerve arises from the floor of the fourth ventricle of the brain. It emerges from the same groove in the medulla oblongata as the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. It is distributed to the tympanum, stylopharyngeal muscle, the mucous membrane of the pharynx, tonsils, and the back of the tongue. The glossopharyngeal is a sensory and motor nerve. It also functions as the nerve of the special sense of taste because it supplies the circumvallate papillae at the back of the tongue.

Mixed

Senses pharynx, carotid sinus/body. Salivates (parotid gland). Tastes and senses posterior one third of tongue. Motor to one muscle-stylopharyngeus

Neck, Pharynx/tongue

Nervus glossopharyngeus

Nerve IX

Nervus glossopharyngeus [IX]