ACTIVITY 4
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?
Image from: http://www.microbiologynutsandbolts.co.uk/the-bug-blog/ringing-the-infection-bell-about-facial-nerve-palsy
Because the patient could not move his left face, the left side of following facial muscles must be affected.
Action
- Orbicularis oculi Moving/extending lips
- Orbicularis oris Blinking
- Masseter Chewing
- Depressor anguli oris Depresses corners of the mouth
- Buccinator muscle Pulls corner of the moth laterally
The patient’s muscle weakness is due to the dysfunction of the facial nerve, which is the 7th cranial nerve. This nerve controls facial expressions or movements of face muscles, so dysfunction of this nerve will cause facial muscle weakness.
Because the patient could not move his facial muscles, he could experience other symptoms such as drooling, tearing up, not being able to close his eyes, or headaches.