What nerve innervates the external auditory meatus?

The external auditory meatus, which is the canal that leads from the external ear to the eardrum, receives its sensory innervation primarily from the auriculotemporal nerve. This nerve is a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3) and provides sensation to the skin of the external ear and the external part of the auditory canal, extending into the tympanic membrane.

When considering the role of the auriculotemporal nerve, it is important to note that it also carries postganglionic parasympathetic fibers from the otic ganglion to the parotid gland. This function integrates both sensory and autonomic components related to the ear, enhancing its importance in the context of external auditory sensations.

The other nerves mentioned do not directly innervate the external auditory meatus. The facial nerve primarily provides motor innervation to the muscles of facial expression and has some sensory functions related to taste in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, but it isn't involved with the sensation of the external auditory meatus. The hypoglossal nerve is primarily motor and is responsible for movements of the tongue, while the vagus nerve has broader autonomic and sensory roles throughout the thorax and abdomen, contributing