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?
The cranial nerve that has been affected by the viral infection is the Facial Nerve (CN VII). According to Tortora & Derrickson, damage to the facial (VII) nerve would cause paralysis of skeletal muscles in the face and impede the sense of smell, taste, and hearing—as it is involved in skeletal muscle contraction in the face, tear and salivary glands secretion, and conveyance of sensory impulses from the taste buds. Herewith, damage to Cranial Nerve VII may result in loss of taste, decreased salivation, and inability to close the eyes, even during sleep, which are in line with the patient’s symptoms.
References
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2014). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (14th ed.). Wiley.