Final answer:
The facial nerve supplies the first arch of the tongue and is associated with the anterior taste buds that detect gustatory stimulation. The facial, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves play roles in taste sensation and the gag reflex.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nerve that supplies the first arch (anterior third) of the tongue and is responsible for taste as well as salivation in the anterior oral cavity is the facial nerve. Taste buds are found in the anterior third of the tongue and are connected to the facial nerve. The facial nerve is also involved in the gag reflex mechanism, along with the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Taste buds are not evenly distributed over the tongue; they are clustered in specific areas that correspond with the nerves that innervate them. Moreover, the glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible for controlling the muscles that result in the gag reflex, by conveying general sensations from the pharyngeal walls and stimulating the contraction of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx, a function in tandem with the vagus nerve when it comes to motor response during the reflex.