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 with its actions
1. Muscle: Frontalis
Action: Raises eyebrows and wrinkles forehead
2. Muscle: Orbicularis oculi
Action: Closes the eyelids by blinking
3. Muscle: Buccinator
Action: Pulls the corner of the mouth laterally
4. Muscle: Platysma
Action: Pulls down the mandible and pulls down the corners of lips
5. Muscle: Orbicularis oris
Action: Closes and protrudes lips
Mechanism of the patient’s muscle weakness: Bell’s palsy results from a facial nerve dysfunction due to facial muscle weakness or paralysis. The facial nerve, particularly the seventh cranial nerve, becomes swollen and inflamed. The discomfort usually occurs on a single side of the face or head.
Other symptoms could the patient exhibit as a result of facial muscle weakness:
- Hypersensitivity to sound
- Headache
- Loss of taste
- Difficulty speaking
- Tearing