Topographical representation of peripheral branches of the facial nerve within the facial nucleus: A HRP study in the cat.

Representation of peripheral branches of the facial nerve within the facial nucleus of the cat was examined by utilizing retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), which was injected into groups of muscles supplied by each of the main peripheral branches of the facial nerve. The cervical branch was represented in the ventromedial division of the facial nucleus, the posterior auricular branch in the medial division, the temporal branch in the intermediate division, the zygomatico-orbital branch in the dorsal division, the superior labial branch in the lateral division and the inferior labial branch in the ventrolateral division.