Bell's Palsy

Strokes and Bell’s Palsy present symptoms that are fairly close to each other. Lyme disease and diabetes could also cause the numbness and the paralysis in the case of lyme disease. Unilateral facial paralysis and/or droop is exhibited in Bell’s Palsy and a stroke, as well as speech difficulty. An inability to furrow eyebrows and a loss of the nasolabial crease are mainly attributed to Bell’s Palsy, unlikely to occur with a stroke (Mayhew). An ability to close the affected sides’ eye and ear or temporal mandibular joint pains are also possible with Bell’s Palsy. Arm drift, the paralysis of other limbs, unequal pupils, and altered LOC, are attributed solely to a stroke (Mayhew). Several symptoms are limited to Bell’s Palsy and are not present
The Oculomotor nerve functions in opening and moving the eye, constricts and focuses the pupil. It originates in the midbrain and passes through the superior orbital fissure of the sphenoid bone. TheTrochlear nerve causes the superior oblique to contract, thereby moving the eyeball inferiorly and laterally (Primal). Passes through the sphenoid bone through the superior orbital fissure. The Trigeminal nerve is composed of the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. All three serve different functions. The Ophthalmic nerve originates in the pons, it provides sensory to the upper face Passes through the superior orbital fissure of the sphenoid bone (Primal). The Maxillary nerve originates in the pons, it provides sensory to the middle face. The maxillary nerve passes through the foramen rotundum into various structures of the middle face. The Mandibular nerve originates in the pons, functions in mastication and sensory to the lower face. Passes through the foramen ovale and extends throughout the lower face. The Abducens nerve causes the lateral rectus to retract, allowing the eye to move laterally. Originates in the inferior pons, it passes through the superior orbital fissure of the sphenoid bone (Primal). Facial muscles that can be affected by Bell’s Palsy: Posterior belly digastric, Stapedius, Muscles of facial expression, Submandibular gland, Sublingual glands
It provides motor innervation to the mylohyoid and anterior belly of the digastric. The Auriculotemporal Nerve branches into two branches, the occipital and auricular branches. It arises distally to the stylomastoid foramen. The Chorda Tympani originates from the facial nerve and supplies taste to the anterior tongue. It provides motor innervation to the submandibular gland and sublingual glands (Primal). The Supratrochlear Nerve arises from the frontal nerve in the upper part of the orbit. It is superior to the levator palpebrae superioris. The Nasocilary Nerve begins from the ophthalmic nerve, it is branched into 6 branches (Primal). The branches are the anterior ethmoidal nerve, the intratrochlear nerve, external nasal branch, internal nasal branches, long ciliary branches, and the posterior ethmoidal nerve. The Lacrimal Nerve begins in the ophthalmic nerve, where it passes through the superior oblique fissure. It supplies the lacrimal gland with motor innervation and the upper eyelid with sensory