Lacrimation is affected due to damage to which of the following nerves?
(A) Nasociliary nerve (B) Greater petrosal nerve (C) Trigeminal nerve (D) Anterior ethmoid nerve
(B) Answer- B (Greater petrosal nerve)The greater petrosal nerve is a branch of the facial nerve. It gives secretomotor fibers to the pterygopalatine ganglion along with lesser petrosal nerve. The postganglionic fibers innervate the lacrimal gland and are responsible for the formation of tears.Greater petrosal nerve damage will deprive the lacrimal gland of its secretomotor fibers and this would lead to the absence of tears.Greater petrosal nerve damage can happen in case of intrapetrosal mass lesions, a trauma in case of temporal bone injuries, etc.