This is patient AM, 28-year-old male who came in the ER because of drooping of his left face. He said he woke up and he could not move his left face.
He has no other muscle weakness. He is conscious and coherent although he had a little difficulty speaking because the left side of his lips drooped. He had normal blood pressure and he had no other co-morbidities. He was diagnosed to have Bell’s palsy. Name 5 muscles which are affected and list its actions. Describe the mechanism of his muscle weakness. What other symptoms could the patient exhibit as a result of facial muscle weakness?
5 Muscles Affected and Their Actions
Muscle | Actions |
1. Orbicularis occuli | Close eyes, blink, wink |
2. Orbicularis oris | Shaping of lips (When speaking) |
3. Buccinator | Blowing, whistling, smiling |
4. Corrugator supercilli | Draws eyebrows medially and downward |
5. Occipitofrontalis | Raises eyebrows, wrinkles forehead |
Mechanism
– Bell's Palsy is caused by Inflammation and swelling of seventh cranial nerve. This nerve controls facial movement and expression.
Other Symptoms
- Dropping eyebrow
- Drooling because of one lopsided mouth
- Difficulty of closing an eyelid
- Decreased ability to taste
- Difficulty in eating
- Pain on ear of the paralyzed side
Bell’s Palsy. (2023). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/bells-palsy
Tortora, G. J. (2018, May 15). Principles of anatomy and physiology. Google Books.
https://books.google.com/books/about/Principles_of_Anatomy_and_Physiology.html?id=aSaVDwAAQBAJ