The facial nerve

Question 1

What is cranial nerve 7?

Answer 1

The facial nerve

Question 2

Where does the cranial nerve emerge from?

Answer 2

The brain

It travels through the posterior cranial fossa before entering the facial canal in the temporal bone

Question 3

What happens to the facial nerve while it is in the temporal bone?

Answer 3

It gives off a number of branches that play a central role in the sense of taste and in controlling salivation

Question 4

Where do the motor nerve fibres of VIII emerge from?

Answer 4

stylomastioid foramen

Question 5

Where is the stylomastioid foramen located?

Answer 5

medial to the mastoid process and styloid process

Question 6

Where is the mastoid process

Answer 6

It is the lump of bone you can feel just behind your ear

Question 7

What is the styloid process

Answer 7

It is a stylus-like projection of the temporal bone

Question 8

What do the motor fibres of the facial nerves supply?

Answer 8

The muscles of facial expression

Question 9

What does the facial nerve do when it comes out of the stylomastoid foramen?

Answer 9

It gives off a couple of small branches one that goes to the posterior belly of the digastric muscle

Question 10

Where does the main truck of nerves enter after leaving the stylomastoid process and branching off?

Answer 10

Enters the posterior aspect of the parotid salivary gland on the side of your face.

Question 11

What happens to the facial nerve when it enters the parotid gland?

Answer 11

It splits off into 5 sets of branches

Question 12

What are the 5 sets of branches that the facial nerve splits of into called?
(In the parotid gland)

Answer 12

1. The temporal branches
2. The zygomatic branches
3. The buccal branches
4. The marginal mandibular branches
5. The cervical branches

Question 13

Describe the pathway the facial nerve takes before splitting into 5 branches in the parotid gland

Answer 13

1. Originates in the brain
2. Travels through the posterior cranial fossa
3. Enters the facial canal in the temporal bone
4. Branches
5. Exits via the stylomastioid foramen
6. Branches
7. Enters the posterior aspect of the parotid salivary gland
8. Branches into 5 sets

Question 14

When are dentist most likely to interfere with the motor fibres of the facial nerve?

Answer 14

Which the nerve fibres are in the parotid gland

Question 15

How can a dentist accidentally inter with the function of the motor fibres of the facial nerve?

Answer 15

A misplaced needle can turn an inferior alveolar nerve block anaesthetic procedure into a facial nerve block anaesthetic procedure
If the needle passes posterior to the mandible, the anaesthetic solution ends up being deposited into the substance of the parotid gland, anaesthetising any nerves that happen to be running through it.

Question 16

What is the result of a dentist accidentally anaesthetising the facial nerve?

Answer 16

The patient loses the ability to move the muscles of facial expression on the affected side of the face

Question 17

Is the paralysis of one side of your face due to misacted needle when giving an IA block permanent ?

Answer 17

No it is only temporary, and will disappear as the anaesthetic effect wears off BUT the patient teeth have not been anaesthetised

Question 18

How do motor branches of the facial nerve allow you to change your expression?

Answer 18

They act on muscles in the skin of your face (the muscles of facial expression).

Question 19

What are Orbicularis Oculi, Orbibularis Oris describes as?

Answer 19

Sphincter muscles

Question 20

What is orbiculares oculi supplied by?

Answer 20

The temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve

Question 21

What is orbiculares oris supplied by?

Answer 21

The buccal and marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerve

Question 22

What does the levator labii superioris muscle allow you to do?

Answer 22

Curl your upper lip upwards

Question 23

What does the zygomaticus major muscle allow you to do?

Answer 23

lift the corners of your mouth

Question 24

What does the depressor anguli oris muscle allow you to do?

Answer 24

depress the corners of your mouth

Question 25

What does the depressor labii inferioris muscle allow you to do?

Answer 25

curl your lower lip downwards

Question 26

What does the mentalis muscle allow you to do?

Answer 26

stick your lower lip out as if sulking.

Question 27

Where is the mentalist found?

Answer 27

in the mid-line below your lower lip

Question 28

What is the disease associated with paralysis of the muscles of facial expression for no apparent reason?

Answer 28

Bell’s palsy

Question 29

What causes Bell’s palsy?

Answer 29

Inflammation of the facial nerve in the facial canal interferes with its function, thereby affecting the muscles of facial expression.

Question 30

Where is the facial canal located?

Answer 30

In the temporal bone

Question 31

The facial nerve is cranial nerve…?

Answer 31

7 (VII)

Question 32

Which muscle alloes you to depress the corners of your mouth?

Answer 32

depressor anguli oris

Question 33

Motor fibres of the facial nerve emerge from where?

Answer 33

The stylomastoid foramen

Question 34

What do the by buccal and marginal mandibular branches of the facial nerve supply?

Answer 34

Orbicularis oris

Question 35

Which muscle allows you to lift the corners of your mouth?

Answer 35

zygomaticus major

Question 36

Where does the facial nerve branch off into 5 different sets?

Answer 36

The parotid gland

Question 37

Which muscle allows you to curl your lower lip downwards?

Answer 37

depressor labii inferioris

Question 38

Name the sphincter muscles of facial expression

Answer 38

Orbicularis Oculi and Orbibularis Oris

Question 39

What do the temporal and zygomatic branches of the facial nerve supply?

Answer 39

orbiculares oculi

Question 40

Which muscle allows you to Curl your upper lip upwards?

Answer 40

Levator labii superioris

Question 41

Which muscle allows you to stick your lower lip out as if sulking?

Answer 41

Mentalis

Question 42

What is Bell’s palsy?

Answer 42

paralysis of the muscles of facial expression for no apparent reason?