Author Question: Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve (VII). What signs and symptoms would you ... (Read 61 times)

cookcarl · **on:** Feb 28, 2019

Bell's palsy is caused by inflammation of the facial nerve (VII). What signs and symptoms would you expect in this condition? Is it permanent?

Question 2

A patient develops a clot that blocks the blood supply to the right cerebral hemisphere. What signs and symptoms would you expect as a result of this blockage?

lorealeza77 · **Reply #1 on:** Feb 28, 2019

Answer to Question 1

Patients suffering from Bell's palsy usually experience paralysis of the facial muscles on the affected side along with a loss of sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. Pain is rare and the condition usually resolves without specific treatment.

Answer to Question 2

Because the right primary motor cortex controls the muscles of the left side of the body, you would expect left-sided paralysis whose extent and severity will depend on the extent of brain injury. Similarly, the patient will experience somatic sensory loss on the left side of the body. Higher-order functions such as memory, planning, spatial orientation, and emotional control could be damaged but many language skills would be spared.