Pharyngeal Arches: Derivatives & Innervation
| Arch | Cranial Nerve | Key Derivatives (Muscles & Skeletal) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | CN V3 (Mandibular) | Muscles of mastication, Mylohyoid, Malleus, Incus. |
| 2nd | CN VII (Facial) | Muscles of facial expression, Stapedius, Stapes. |
| 3rd | CN IX (Glossopharyngeal) | Stylopharyngeus, the greater horn of the hyoid. |
| 4th | CN X (Superior Laryngeal) | Pharyngeal constrictors, Cricothyroid, Laryngeal cartilages. |
| 6th | CN X (Recurrent Laryngeal) | Intrinsic muscles of the larynx, Laryngeal cartilages. |
NEET PG Hint: Remember the mnemonic “When at the restaurant of the golden arches, children are first chewed (1st arch, V3), then smiled (2nd arch, VII), then swallowed (3rd arch, IX), then spoke (4th arch, X).” Note: There is no 5th arch in humans.