Patient: 28-year-old male
Affected Muscles:
1. Platysma
Action: Draws outer lip inferiorly and posteriorly, depresses mandible
2. Orbicularis oris
Action: Closes and protrudes lips, compresses lips against teeth
3. Orbicularis oculi
Action: Closes eye
4. Occipitofrontalis
Action: Draws scalp anteriorly, raises eyebrows, wrinkles skin of forehead horizontally
5. Buccinator
Action: Presses cheek against teeth and lips, draws corner of mouth laterally
Mechanism: The inflammation- presumably caused by a viral infection- of a facial nerve (specifically Facial (VII) nerve) causes the nerve to loose its control over the facial muscles. Thus, resulting to the loss of muscle tone and drooping of the face. However, Bell's palsy is temporary and can be remedied in a few weeks.
Other symptoms may include:
1. Difficulty smiling
2. Difficulty in chewing
3. Difficulty closing eyelids
4. Drooling
5. Dry eye and mouth