ninth cranial nerve

/naɪnθ ˌkreɪniəl nərv/

Definitions of ninth cranial nerve

1. noun

   sensory nerve to the pharynx and back of the tongue; motor fibers innervate muscles that elevate the pharynx and larynx; includes parasympathetic fibers to the otic ganglion
   synonyms: glossopharyngeal nerve, nervus glossopharyngeus

   type of:

   cranial nerve

   any of the 12 paired nerves that originate in the brain stem