The above drawing shows the position of the motor nucleus of the facial nerve and the circuitous course of facial nerve fibers. The facial nerve exits rostral to the nucleus after forming a genu (bend) above the abducent nucleus.

The facial nerve also innervates nasal, lacrimal, and salivary glands. Parasympathetic axons come from a small VE nucleus (green) located just caudal to the genu. Click to see a histological view of the facial nucleus and nerve.