The geniculate ganglion (from Latin genu, for "knee"[1]) is a bilaterally paired special sense ganglion[2] of the intermediate nerve component of the facial nerve (CN VII).

[citation needed] It contains cell bodies of first-order unipolar sensory neurons which convey gustatory (taste) afferents from taste receptors of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue by way of the chorda tympani, and of the palate by way of the greater petrosal nerve, From the ganglion, the proximal fibres proceed to the gustatory (i.e. superior/rostral[3]) part of the solitary nucleus where they synapse with second-order neurons.

[4] It is covered superiorly by the petrous part of the temporal bone (which is sometimes absent over the ganglion).

[5] The geniculate ganglion is an important surgical landmark near the internal auditory meatus.

Swelling of the ganglion may result in facial palsy (Ramsay Hunt syndrome).