What is another name for the facial nerve?
The facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve, cranial nerve VII, or simply CN VII, is a cranial nerve that emerges from the pons of the brainstem, controls the muscles of facial expression, and functions in the conveyance of taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
What type of nerve is facial nerve?
The facial nerve is the seventh cranial nerve. It contains the motor, sensory, and parasympathetic (secretomotor) nerve fibers, which provide innervation to many areas of the head and neck region. The facial nerve is comprised of three nuclei: The main motor nucleus.
What is the main nerve in your face?
The Trigeminal Nerve It is the nerve responsible for providing sensation to the face. One trigeminal nerve runs to the right side of the head, while the other runs to the left. Each of these nerves has three distinct branches.
What is the 7th facial nerve called?
Sensory and Secretomotor Divisions of Cranial Nerve VII The sensory fibers of the facial nerve, called the chorda tympani nerve, respond to taste input from the taste buds of the tongue. The cell bodies of these fibers are in a sensory ganglion located near the inner ear (called the geniculate ganglion).
Is facial nerve sensory or motor?
The facial nerve controls the muscles that help you smile, frown, wrinkle your nose, and raise your eyebrows and forehead. This seventh cranial nerve performs motor and sensory functions.
What causes damage to the facial nerve?
Causes. Trauma to the face or head area can cause nerve damage. This can happen due to blunt force, such as being hit hard with something heavy or sharp. Nerve damage can also happen due to certain conditions such as birth defects, Bell's palsy, or a stroke.
What causes the trigeminal nerve to flare up?
Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia usually occurs spontaneously, but is sometimes associated with facial trauma or dental procedures. The condition may be caused by a blood vessel pressing against the trigeminal nerve, also known as vascular compression.
What happens if trigeminal nerve is damaged?
A trigeminal nerve injury may affect a small area, like part of your gum, or a large area, like one side of your face. The injury can cause problems with chewing and speaking. The extent depends on where the nerve damage occurs. You may have ongoing numbness or facial pain in the area that the nerve serves.
What does the facial nerve control?
The facial nerve provides motor innervation of facial muscles that are responsible for facial expression, parasympathetic innervation of the glands of the oral cavity and the lacrimal gland, and sensory innervation of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
What is the 8th cranial nerve called?
vestibulocochlear nerveThe vestibulocochlear nerve consists of the vestibular and cochlear nerves, also known as cranial nerve eight (CN VIII).
What is cranial nerve 6 called?
Cranial nerve six (CN VI), also known as the abducens nerve, is one of the nerves responsible for the extraocular motor functions of the eye, along with the oculomotor nerve (CN III) and the trochlear nerve (CN IV).
What are the 5 branches of facial nerve?
The branches are, from top to bottom: frontal (or temporal), zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical. Each of these branches provides input to a group of muscles of facial expression.
Is cranial nerve 5 sensory or motor?
Excerpt. The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve (CN V). Its primary function is to provide sensory and motor innervation to the face. The trigeminal nerve consists of three branches on either side that extend to different territories of the face.
Is the mandibular nerve sensory or motor?
The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve, also referred to as the mandibular nerve, is a mixed sensory and branchial motor nerve. It is also the largest of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The sensory root arises from the lateral aspect of the ganglion, with the motor division lying deeper.
Is the trigeminal nerve a peripheral nerve?
The trigeminal nerve, also called the fifth cranial nerve, mediates sensations of the face and eye as well as many of the muscle movements involved in chewing. It is the largest of the twelve cranial nerves, and like the others, it is a peripheral nerve that originates in the brainstem.
What are the cranial nerve?
The cranial nerves are a set of 12 paired nerves in the back of your brain. Cranial nerves send electrical signals between your brain, face, neck and torso. Your cranial nerves help you taste, smell, hear and feel sensations. They also help you make facial expressions, blink your eyes and move your tongue.
Overview
The facial nerve is a pathway from your brain to certain muscles in your face. It controls muscles that help you make expressions like raising an eyebrow, smiling or frowning. This nerve is also responsible for most of your tongue’s taste sensations.
Function
The facial nerve performs these motor (movement) and sensory functions:
Anatomy
The facial nerve is the seventh of 12 cranial nerves in your nervous system. You have two facial nerves, one on each side of your head.
Conditions and Disorders
Several conditions can cause weakness or paralysis of the facial nerve, including:
What is the facial nerve?
The facial nerve is one of a group of nerves called the cranial nerves (CN), twelve pairs of nerves that , with the exception of the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI), originate in the brain and contribute to the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
What is the function of the facial nerve?
While it is indeed responsible for innervating the muscles of facial expression, the facial nerve is a complex structure containing many fiber types with a variety of functions, including motor, sensory, and autonomic. The following article will discuss the importance and versatility facial nerve.
Where do facial nerve fibers travel?
The fibers travel towards the floor of IV ventricle and go around the abducens nucleus and descend. The facial nerve emerges from the lateral surface of brainstem at the pontine-medullary junction between the VI and VIII nerves.
What is the vascular damage of the facial nerve?
Vascular damage to the facial nerve usually occurs at the supranuclear, pontine, and (rarely) cerebellopontine angle. Upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions occur in strokes and can easily be differentiated with lower motor neuron (LMN) lesions by their presentation. A LMN lesion causes paralysis of the whole side of face, ...
What are the components of the facial nerve?
The facial nerve contains many different types of fibers, including general sensory (afferent) fibers, special sensory fibers, visceral/autonomic motor (efferent) fibers, and somatic motor fibers. General sensory fibers in the facial nerve are responsible for transmitting signals to the brain from ...
Which nerve is responsible for innervating the lacrimal gland, submandibular gland, sublingual?
Visceral/autonomic motor fibers in the facial nerve are responsible for innervating the lacrimal gland, submandibular gland, sublingual gland, and the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity and hard and soft palates, allowing for production of tears, saliva, etc., from these locations.
Which nerve contains motor fibers?
the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) Some of these contain motor fibers, some contain autonomic fibers, some contain somatic sensory fibers, some contain special sensory fibers, and some contain combinations of a number of these aforementioned fiber types.
What is the facial nerve?
The facial nerve is also known as the seventh cranial nerve (CN7). This nerve performs two major functions. It conveys some sensory information from the tongue and the interior of the mouth. Specifically, CN7 serves about two-thirds of the tongue’s tip. The nerve extends from the brain stem, at the pons and the medulla.
What nerve innervates facial muscles?
It conveys some sensory information from the tongue and the interior of the mouth. Specifically, CN7 serves about two-thirds of the tongue’s tip. The nerve extends from the brain stem, at the pons and the medulla. Also, this nerve innervates facial muscles, controlling how to contract and produce facial expressions.
What causes facial nerve paralysis?
This condition, as well as other forms of paralysis, is sometimes triggered by a viral infection or complications of Lyme disease. Last medically reviewed on January 23, 2018.
Which nerves are involved in the CN7?
During its course, CN7 splits into several branches. The greater petrosal nerve serves the lacrimal gland (the gland that produces tears) and the nasal cavity, as well sphenoid, frontal, maxillary, and ethmoid sinuses (cavities in the skull).
Which branch of the facial nerve enervates the head?
These include that: Upper (ophthalmic) branch: Enervates the scalp, forehead, and front of the head. Middle (maxillary) branch: Enervates the cheek, upper jaw, top lip, teeth and gums, and the side of the nose. Lower (mandibular) branch: Enervates the lower jaw, teeth and gums, and bottom lip. Facial nerve pain is pain referred by these nerves ...
What nerve causes facial pain?
Facial nerve pain is most commonly related to the trigeminal nerve, though we discuss some of the other more common causes below. Three branches of the trigeminal nerve are responsible for enervating various parts of the face. These include that: Upper (ophthalmic) branch: Enervates the scalp, forehead, and front of the head.
What is the lower mandibular branch?
Lower (mandibular) branch: Enervates the lower jaw, teeth and gums, and bottom lip. Facial nerve pain is pain referred by these nerves to the brain from any of these areas. Atypical facial pain vs. trigeminal neuralgia is another story.
Why does my mandibular nerve hurt?
Mandibular nerve pain may occur as a direct result of the compression of the lower branch of the trigeminal nerve. Pain may also occur inside the mouth.
Why does my trigeminal nerve hurt?
Trigeminal neuralgia may be caused by compression or damage to the trigeminal nerve, resulting in breathtaking sharp pain, like electric shocks. Pain may last for seconds or hours and is unpredictable in nature.
What is atypical facial pain?
Unlike the short bursts of pain that are typical of trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain may be more of a burning, severe ache or crushing sensation in the affected areas of your face.
What is the pain in the face?
Facial pain encompasses every type of pain in the face, from a simple sinus headache to more involved and chronic conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia.
What is the fifth cranial nerve?
The trigeminal nerve, also called the cranial nerve V (that's the Roman numeral five), is the fifth of 12 cranial nerves.
Which nerve helps you feel?
The trigeminal nerve primarily helps you feel (sensory), although the mandibular nerve branch has both sensory and motor functions. The trigeminal nerve helps with:
How many nerves does the trigeminal ganglion have?
The trigeminal ganglion splits into three trigeminal nerve branches. These branches travel along each side of your head to different parts of your face.
What nerves help with pain?
The trigeminal nerves play essential roles in helping your face feel pain, touch, warmth or cold. The mandibular branches of the trigeminal nerves help you bite, chew and swallow. In some cases, people develop numbness or other signs of trigeminal neuropathy from an accident, dental procedure or facial surgery. Trigeminal neuralgia can cause stabbing, shock-like facial pain or a constant burning sensation. Talk to your provider about finding relief from these trigeminal nerve conditions.
What is the name of the condition that affects only one side of the face?
Trigeminal neuralgia tends to affect only one side of your face. Some people develop facial twitches (tics) after the pain subsides.
What is the name of the condition where an artery wraps around the trigeminal nerve and causes irritation?
Primary trigeminal neuralgia occurs when an artery or vein wraps around the trigeminal nerve and causes irritation.
What is the pain on one side of the face?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of trigeminal neuropathy brought on by nerve damage. The condition causes sudden, intense facial pain on one side of your face. The pain can feel like an electrical shock. Approximately 150,000 people develop trigeminal neuralgia every year. It's also called tic douloureux.
How long does facial paralysis last?
Depending on the cause, the paralysis might last for a short or extended period of time.
What to do if you have a stroke and you have facial paralysis?
Since it is sometimes hard to distinguish between a stroke and other causes of facial paralysis, it is a good idea to get your loved one to a doctor quickly if you notice facial paralysis. If you believe that you or a loved one may be experiencing a stroke, call 911 as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?
The most common diagnosis is in fact Bell’s palsy. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy can include a combination of: facial paralysis on one side (rarely are both sides of the face affected) loss of blinking control on the affected side. decreased tearing. drooping of the mouth to the affected side. altered sense of taste.
Why does my face droop?
Your facial muscles may appear to droop or become weak. It can happen on one or both sides of the face. Common causes of facial paralysis include: infection or inflammation of the facial nerve. head trauma. head or neck tumor. stroke. Facial paralysis can come on suddenly (in the case of Bell’s palsy, for example) or happen gradually ...
How to keep your eyes moist with facial paralysis?
They may also need to wear a special clear plastic moisture chamber to keep the eye moist and protected.
Can a baby's facial paralysis be caused by multiple sclerosis?
autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, which affects the brain and spinal cord, and Guillain-Barré syndrome, which affects the nervous system. Birth can cause temporary facial paralysis in some babies. However, 90 percent of babies with this type of injury recover completely without treatment.
Does facial paralysis go away?
Unfortunately, even with all current options for therapy, some cases of facial paralysis may never completely go away. For these people, physical therapy and eye care can help prevent any further damage and improve quality of life. Last medically reviewed on September 26, 2016.
What nerve causes pain in the cheek and jaw?
Constant aching, burning feeling that may occur before it evolves into the spasm-like pain of trigeminal neuralgia. Pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead.
What is the pain in the face called?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia , even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.
How does trigeminal neuralgia feel?
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms may include one or more of these patterns: Episodes of severe, shooting or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric shock. Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking or brushing teeth. Bouts of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes.
What causes trigeminal neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve. Some people may experience trigeminal neuralgia due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. In other cases, surgical injuries, stroke or facial trauma may be responsible for trigeminal neuralgia.
What is the name of the nerve that is disrupted by blood pressure?
In trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, the trigeminal nerve's function is disrupted. Usually, the problem is contact between a normal blood vessel — in this case, an artery or a vein — and the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain. This contact puts pressure on the nerve and causes it to malfunction.
Can you have pain on both sides of your face?
Pain affecting one side of the face at a time, though may rarely affect both sides of the face. Pain focused in one spot or spread in a wider pattern. Attacks that become more frequent and intense over time.
Can trigeminal neuralgia cause pain?
You may initially experience short, mild attacks. But trigeminal neuralgia can progress and cause longer, more-frequent bouts of searing pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men, and it's more likely to occur in people who are older than 50.
