Question

1. What would you assess for if there is damage to cranial nerve VII?
2. What is the difference between a stroke and Bell’s Palsy? Is cranial nerve VII affected?

Answer 1

Damage to the VII cranial nerve leads to the condition known as " Bell's palsy ".

Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy occurs due to one-sided inflammation of the cranial nerve VII, damage to the seventh cranial nerves cause weakness on the facial muscles of the affected side, weakness to the facial nerve is also called paralysis or facial muscles paralysis.

Its causes are unknown but there are possibilities that it is due to lack of blood flow to the facial vessels that causes ischemia, infection ( viral), diseases related to immunity etc.

Adult less than 40 - 45 years of age are mostly affected, it is sometimes considered as the pressure paralysis, as the affected nerve is compressed and blood flow gets obstructed that leads to ischemia.

Assessment related to VII CRANIAL NERVE DAMAGE ARE.

1. The shape of the face is changed due to the facial muscles paralysis.

2. The flow of tears is increased.

3. The patient feels pain on the face, near eyes and back of the ear of the affected side.

4. The weakness of facial muscle makes chewing and eating difficult.

5. Inability to speak with clarity.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STROKE AND BELL' s PALSY.

STROKE--- Stroke is also called brain attack or cerebrovascular accident, it is the condition in which there is an unexpected or sudden cut - off of the blood supply to the brain occurs.

ALSO, it affects the 6 the cranial nerve, sometimes also affects 7th cranial nerve.

This condition is similar to a heart attack as a stroke also needs emergency care.

Assessment of stroke is defined with the

MNEMONIC " FAST"

F --- FACIAL WEAKNESS.

A ---ARM WEAKNESS

S --- SPEECH DIFFICULTIES.

T -- TIME TO CALL EMERGENCY.

Bell's palsy affects the 7th cranial nerve.

Difference between a STROKE AND BELLS PALSY.

1.​​​​​BELL'S PALSY...

A) one-sided facial paralysis is present.

B) There is difficulty in speech.

C) Eyes can be closed with little effort.

D) Pain in ear is present.

E) Level of consciousness is altered.

F) It doesn't cause paralysis to other body parts or limbs.

G) No affect on the pupil.

H) Only 7th cranial nerve is affected.

I) It occurs due to compression of the facial nerve.

J) Emergency care is not needed.

2. STROKE...

A) unilateral paralysis of facial muscle is present.

B) The difficulty of speech is present.

C) Eyes can't be closed easily.

D) No ear pain is felt by the patient.

E) Level of consciousness is affected.

F) Other limbs can be affected.

G) Pupils are affected.

H) Damage to both 6th and the 7th cranial nerve can occur.

I) It occurs due to the disruption of blood flow to the brain.

J) Emergency care is needed.