IV.C.6 Head: The Hearing Mechanism Page 3 of 4

Notice that the facial nerve and its two branches the chorda tympani and the greater petrosal nerve also pass through the temporal bone.

Notice that the facial nerve does supply innervation to the inner ear, but the other nerves are just passing through.

	Can you find the stapedius muscle?
It is the muscle that connects to the stapes in this drawing:
	What is the function of the stapedius muscle and what nerve innervates this muscle?
This muscle is innervated by the mandibular branch of the facial nerve (VII). This muscle functions to decrease oscillation of the stapes at the oval window.