The anterior palatine nerve is the third unpaired facial nerve in the skull. It first runs from the ethmoid bone to the jaws and transmits nerves to the mandibular and hypoglossal nerves. At this point, the facial artery passes a little higher, among the internal organs of the diencephalon. Its branches are the glossopharyngeal, facial, auriculotemporal, greater petrosal, lesser petrosal and styloid nerves.