Question

What would you assess for if there is damage to cranial nerve VII?

What is the difference between a stroke and Bell’s Palsy? Is cranial nerve VII affected?

Answer 1

Ans) Assessment of cranial nerve VII:

- Observe the patient for nystagmus or twitching of the eye. Cranial nerve VII controls facial movements and expression. Assess the patient for facial symmetry. Have him wrinkle his forehead, close his eyes, smile, pucker his lips, show his teeth, and puff out his cheeks.

- A stroke usually brings paralysis or weakness to the lower face, while Bell's palsy usually brings paralysis or weakness to an entire side of your face. Also, Bell's palsy only affects your facial area, while a stroke can target the arm and leg of one side of your body.

- Sensory and Secretomotor Divisions of Cranial Nerve VII: It passes between the malleus and the incus bones of the ear and enters from the skull separately, which is why taste is sometimes spared even though other branches of the facial nerve are affected in Bell's palsy.