2. Cranial Nerve Function Directions: Read the following scenario and answer the

Question

2. Cranial Nerve Function

Directions: Read the following scenario and answer the questions that follow:

A 25-year-old female checks in to the emergency room stating that over the past 48 hours she has been unable to close her right eye and has developed facial weakness on the right side. Upon examination of the patient you immediately rule out stroke due to medical history, normal vital signs, and most importantly the facial weakness includes the whole face whereas this is uncommon in stroke victims. When the patient raises, and lowers her eyebrows only the left side can move and the right side remains flat. The same is true for smiling, only the left side of her mouth rises, while the right side remains flat. The woman is eventually diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. The patient is informed that Bell’s palsy is caused by inflammation of a specific cranial nerve.

a. Using your knowledge of cranial nerve function which cranial nerve(s) are affected? Explain your reasoning.

b. Sometimes individuals who suffer from Bell’s palsy also report loss of taste. Why might this happen?

Explanation / Answer

a ) VII cranial nerve is damaged ( facial motor nerve ) becuse the person even suffer with Bell’s Palsy (a condition in which the muscles on one side of your face become weak or paralyzed )

b ) Bell's palsy is characterized by a one-sided facial droop that comes on within 72 hours. In rare cases (<1%), it can occur on both sides resulting in total facial paralysis.

It also carries taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, via the chorda tympani nerve (a branch of the facial nerve). Because of this, people with Bell's palsy may present with loss of taste sensation in the anterior 2/3 of the tongue on the affected side

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