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?
Facial (VII) nerve which has a sensory and motor component is the main cranial nerve affected by the viral infection. The sensory component carries taste sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue while the motor component innorvates facial muscles that is responsible for facial expressions (abilty to close or open the eyes), and is involved in the secretion of saliva and tears. This condition is known as Bell's Palsy which results from the damage of facial (VII) nerve.