Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy
Medical Revising Author: Standiford Helm II, MD
Medical Revising Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What is the facial nerve?
The facial nerve is a nerve which controls the muscles
on the side of the face. It allows us to show expression, smile, cry, and wink.
Injury to the facial nerve causes a socially and psychologically devastating
physical defect; treatment may require extensive rehabilitation or multiple procedures.
The facial nerve is the seventh of the twelve cranial nerves. Everyone has
two facial nerves, one for each side of the face. The facial nerve travels with
the hearing nerve (the eighth cranial nerve) as it travels in and around the
structures of the middle ear. It exits
the front of the ear at the stylomastoid foramen (a hole in the skull base),
where it then travels through the parotid gland. In the parotid gland it divides into many branches which provide motor function for the
various muscles and glands of the head and neck.
What are symptoms of a facial nerve problem?
Facial nerve problems may result in facial muscle
paralysis, weakness, or twitching of the face; dryness of the eye or the mouth;
or alteration of taste on the affected side. However, the finding of one of
these symptoms does not necessarily imply a specific facial nerve problem; your
physician needs to make a careful investigation in order to make a precise
diagnosis.
What conditions affect the facial nerve?
There are numerous causes of facial nerve disorder:
- Trauma: such as birth trauma, skull base fractures, facial injuries, middle
ear injuries, or surgical trauma.
- Nervous system disease: including Opercular syndrome, Millard-Gubler
syndrome.
- Infection: of the ear or face, or
Herpes Zoster of the facial nerve
(Ramsey-Hunt syndrome).
- Tumors: acoustic neuroma, schwannoma, cholesteatoma, parotid tumors, glomus
tumors.
- Bell's palsy: Also called idiopathic facial nerve
paralysis (see below).
Next: How are the causes of facial nerve dysfunction diagnosed? »
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