It provides sensory innervation for the middle ear, the Eustachian tube, the parotid gland, and mastoid cells.

[2] It passes through the petrous part of the temporal bone within the tympanic canaliculus that is situated within the bony ridge separating the carotid canal and the jugular foramen to reach the middle ear.

[3] The tympanic nerve is involved in a reflex, where stimulation of the ear canal increases salivation.

[4] The tympanic nerve may be involved by paraganglioma, in this location referred to as a glomus tympanicum tumour.

[1] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 910 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)