THE CONVOLUTED course of the seventh nerve through the ear can be described with a grain of salt as constant. Changes in its anatomy have so far been described as relatively rare. Apart from dehiscences of the fallopian canal which should not be regarded as anomalies even though they sometimes are very extensive, there are frequent anomalies of the anatomical course which can be of clinical significance (see Fowler, Kettel, Angell-James, and Behrens). Moreover, Fowler, Jr., Hawley, Hahlbrock, Kettel, Basek, and I saw bipartition of the nerve, and Jongkees even saw a tripartition. All these anomalies were found in patients with completely normal aural findings. On the other hand, changes in course exceeding the anomalies just mentioned are generally associated with malformations of the ear, for the facial nerve as a derivative of the second branchial arch during ontogenesis is closely adjacent to the derivatives of the first visceral arch