Affected Muscles:
1. Orbicularis oris - closes and protrudes the upper and lower lip to close the mouth
2. Frontalis - raises eyebrows and causes the forehead to develop horizontal wrinkles
3. Zygomaticus - pull the angle of the mouth superolaterally to keep it raised.
4. Orbicularis oculi - open and close the eyelids
5. Buccinator - pulls on the corners of the mouth laterally to keep it in place, maintain cheek tension, and help open and close the mouth
His muscle weakness, which is associated with Bell's palsy, most likely means that the seventh cranial nerve that controls the facial nerves is damaged. The inflammation of the facial nerves also affects how he can move his facial muscle for inflammation can lead to the loss of ability to control these facial muscles. Inflammation could be caused by viral infections.
Other symptoms that could occur as a result of his facial muscle weakness are:
- Drooling
- Dry eyes
- Facial pain
- Loss of taste
- Ear ringing