Some of the muscles affected by Bell's Palsy are the following:
- Orbicularis oculi
- Action: Closes eye
- Zygomaticus major
- Action: Draws angle of mouth superiorly and laterally, as in smiling.
- Orbicularis oris
- Action: Closes and protrudes lips, as in kissing; compresses lips against teeth; and shapes lips during speech
- Zygomaticus minor
- Action: Raises (elevates) upper lip, exposing maxillary (upper) teeth.
- Risorius
- Action: Draws angle of mouth laterally, as in grimacing
Bell's Palsy is a condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face, which results to the affected side of the face to droop. This is caused by swelling and inflammation of the nerves that control the muscles on the affected side of the face or a reaction that occurs after experiencing a viral infection.
Other symptoms of Bell's Palsy could be the following:
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Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of the face
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Drooling
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Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side
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Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side
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Headache
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A loss of taste
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Changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce
- Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling
References:
Bell’s palsy - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic. (2022, May 4). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370028
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2017). Principles of anatomy & physiology. Fifteenth edition; Wiley Loose-Leaf Print Companion. Hoboken, New Jersey, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.