50-year-old man presents to the speech therapist complaining of dryness of the mouth. The therapist performs a swallowing study and, on examination, finds that the man has a lack of salivary secretion from the submandibular gland. This indicates a lesion of which of the following nervous structures?

Chorda tympani nerve contains preganglionic parasympathetic fibres responsible for secretion of the submandibular gland. Lingual nerve at its origin is not yet joined by the chorda tympani. Superior cervical ganglion provides sympathetic fibres, which supply blood vessels in the submandibular gland. Lesser petrosal nerve contains preganglionic parasympathetic fibres that synapse in the otic ganglion. Auriculotemporal nerve contains postganglionic parasympathetic fibres, which are responsible for secretion of the parotid gland.