nerve to the stapedius

{{Short description|Nerve of the middle ear}}

{{Infobox nerve

| Name = Nerve to the stapedius

| Latin = nervus stapedius

| Image =

| Caption =

| Image2 =

| Caption2 =

| Innervates = Stapedius

| BranchFrom = Facial nerve

| BranchTo =

}}

The nerve to the stapedius is a branch of the facial nerve (CN VII) which innervates the stapedius muscle.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1044772257 |title=The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy, Medical Course & Step 1 Review |date=2018 |others=David A. Morton, K. Bo Foreman, Kurt H. Albertine |isbn=978-1-259-86264-9 |edition=2nd |location=New York |pages=222 |oclc=1044772257}} It arises from the CN VII within the facial canal,{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42th |location=New York |pages=749 |oclc=1201341621}} opposite the pyramidal eminence. It passes through a small canal in this eminence to reach the stapedius muscle.{{Cite book |last=Gray |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/anatomyofhumanbo1918gray/page/904/mode/2up?view=theater |title=Gray's Anatomy |year=1918 |edition=20th |pages=904}}