Final answer:
The mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V3) through the lingual nerve provides somatosensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, while the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves are more involved with taste sensations and salivation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cranial nerve responsible for providing somatosensation, which includes touch, pain, and temperature, to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (V3) through the lingual nerve. The facial nerve (VII) and the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) are primarily responsible for taste sensations rather than somatosensation. These nerves convey gustatory stimulation to the brain and play a role in salivation within the anterior oral cavity. In addition, the glossopharyngeal nerve carries somatosensory information from the posterior one-third of the tongue and is also involved in gag reflex response, which is mediated through the vagus nerve (X).