Your patient recently had a viral infection and now she cannot move the muscles on the right side of her face. In addition, she is experiencing a loss of taste and dry mouth and she cannot close her right eye. Which cranial nerves have been affected by the viral infection?
As indicated in the scenario, the patient's afflicted muscles are on the right side of her cheek. She has also lost her sense of taste and has been suffering from dry mouth. Her right eye does not close either due to the viral infection. These muscles are part of the facial nerve or cranial nerve (CN) VII, which is the nerve of facial expression. This nerve controls facial expression muscles as well as particular sensory and general sensibilities.
References:
McCulloch, T., & McCarthy, A. (2018, February 15). Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII) -- General Information | Iowa Head and Neck Protocols. Carver College of Medicine.https://medicine.uiowa.edu/iowaprotocols/facial-nerve-cranial-nerve-vii-general-information