Facial Nerve Anatomy and Clinical Applications Quiz

Facial Nerve Anatomy and Clinical Applications

• Trigeminal neuralgia is chronic facial pain triggered by mild sensory stimulation, more common in women over 50 years, and treated with medications or surgery.
• Inferior alveolar nerve block carries the risk of venous blood from the face entering the cavernous sinus, leading to thrombophlebitis or infections.
• The complexity of the facial nerve (VII) and its lesions can cause weakness of the whole face, taste and lacrimation loss, and affect chewing and appearance.
• Central lesions of the facial nerve affect the ipsilateral side of the face, while lesions around the geniculate ganglion can also affect taste and lacrimation.
• Lesions at and around the stylomastoid foramen result in ipsilateral loss of motor function of the whole side of the face, known as Bell's palsy.
• Bell's palsy causes temporary facial paralysis, affecting around 40,000 Americans annually, and is common in people with diabetes or upper respiratory ailments.
• Corneal reflex testing can reveal absent corneal reflex on the involved eye due to lesions affecting the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve.
• Herpes zoster infection of the trigeminal ganglion can lead to painful corneal damage and subsequent scarring, particularly affecting the ophthalmic division.
• Herpes zoster often results in painful corneal ulceration, requiring early recognition and treatment to prevent permanent damage.
• Herpes zoster infection may involve any division of the trigeminal nerve, but the ophthalmic division is most commonly affected.
• Corneal reflex testing relies on the supraorbital branch of V1 as the afferent limb and is absent in children under 9 months of age.
• Herpes zoster infection can lead to painful corneal damage and scarring, requiring early recognition and treatment to prevent permanent damage.