Case Studies Human Physiology Name Date Case 1 - Peripheral Nervous System Marcu

Question

Case Studies Human Physiology Name Date Case 1 - Peripheral Nervous System Marcus should have been happy as he prepared for a job interview for a successful marketing firm, but as he looked into the mirror that morning, he felt a rush of dread. The 34-year-old Atlantan saw the small area that he dared not shave, and it was an odd- looking hairy oval on his otherwise smooth face. He was going to have to share his story with the interviewer, lest they think he is sloppy or crazy Marcus was diagnosed a year ago with trigeminal neuralgia, a cranial nerve disorder that causes searing pain in his cheek, and sometimes in his jaw and forehead. The pain episodes occur several times a day, but he has learned that it is often brought about by even the lightest touch to hypersensitive areas, such as the area around his cheekbone where he avoids shaving. 1. What are the normal functions of the trigeminal nerve, and how might they be affected by trigeminal neuralgia? 2. Marcus' problems seem to stem mainly from the middle branch of the nerve. What are the three branches of the trigeminal nerve, and which areas do they innervate? 3. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia can drive victims to their knees, and often to despair and sometimes suicide. How would you counsel a patient that had to live in constant pain with little relief?

Explanation / Answer

Solution 1,

Normal functions of trigeminal nerve are

a) trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensations in face.

b) and is responsible for motor fuctions like biting and chewing food.

trigeminal nerve carries sensations from face to brain, so if a person is affected by trigeminal neuralgia, he or she might experience unbearable pain even on mild stimulation of face like brushing teeth or chewing food.

Solution 2,

The three branches of trigeminal nerve are-

a) Opthalmic nerve (V1)

it is a terminal branch of trigeminal nerve which provides sensory innervation to skin, mucous membranes and sinuses of derivatives of frontonasal prominence that includes area like forehead and scalp, frontal and ethmoidal sinus, upper eyelid and its conjunctiva, cornea, dorsum of the nose.

b) Maxillary nerve (V2)

it innervates the skin, mucous membranes and sinuses of derivatives of the maxillary prominence of the first pharyngeal arch like lower eyelid and its conjunctiva, cheeks and maxillary sinus, nasal cavity and lateral nose, upper lip, upper molar, incisor and canine teeth, superior palate.

c) Mandibular nerve (V3)

Mandibular nerve gives rise to four terminal branches in the infra-temporal fossa, these terminal branches are buccal nerve, inferior alveolar nerve, auriculotemporal nerve and lingual nerve which innervate the skin, mucous membrane. Areas of mandibular nerve innervation are mucous membranes and floor of the oral cavity, external ear, lower lip, chin, anterior of the tongue, lower molar, incisor and canine teeth and the associated gingiva.

Solution 3,

If i would have to counsel a patient that had to live in constant pain with little or no relief, then i will check first what is the cause of pain by patiently listening to the patient and i will look for the signs of any chemical addiction as addiction is due to pain medication. People with chronic pain tends to isolate as nobody cares what they are going through and cannot feel the pain they are experiencing daily so its necessary to built the trust of patient so that he or she begins to feel that i am not regarding his or her pain as burden.

I will suggest the patient to try group therapy in a community of others dealing with chronic pain, this will reduce their loneliness, isolation and help them to feel that they are not alone who are experiencing such kind of unbearable pain. in addition to this, i will suggest mindfulness exercises by helping patient to learn how to restore normal brain function, in part by working on planned movement exercises which divert their mind from pain and indulge them into something interesting and helpful.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse C
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.