Answer the questions below in the discussion forum:
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?
ANSWER:
The patient is likely to have facial paralysis where a nerve becomes damaged. Patient’s nerves that are affected in his/her viral infection include cranial nerve numbers 3 (III, Oculomotor Nerve) and 7 (VII, Facial Nerve). Cranial nerve III - Oculomotor Nerve is responsible for the movement of the upper eyelid and eyeballs and constricts pupils. Meanwhile, cranial nerve VII - Facial Nerve is responsible for taste, proprioception, touch, pain, temperature sensations, facial expressions, and secretion of tears and saliva.