Which cranial nerve provides special sensation for taste buds on the anterior tongue?

The cranial nerve that provides special sensation for the taste buds on the anterior tongue is cranial nerve VII, known as the facial nerve. This nerve is responsible for conveying taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue through its chorda tympani branch. The taste sensation from this region is distinct from general sensation, which involves touch and temperature, and it is specifically tied to the ability to perceive flavors.

Cranial nerve IX, or the glossopharyngeal nerve, is involved in taste sensation from the posterior one-third of the tongue. Cranial nerve X, the vagus nerve, has some innervation to the throat and epiglottis but is not primarily responsible for taste from the tongue itself. Cranial nerve V3, the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, primarily handles sensory perception like touch, pain, and temperature, and it does not have a role in taste sensation. Therefore, the correct choice, cranial nerve VII, is the critical nerve for taste from the anterior part of the tongue.