High School

What facial movements should you assess in a sensory assessment of the facial nerve?

Answer :

Final answer:

In a facial nerve sensory assessment, movements such as eyebrow raising, smiling, and frowning are observed, along with resistance tests like squeezing the eyes shut. These checks help to identify muscle strength and nerve function, with repeated tests ensuring consistent results.

Explanation:

Facial Nerve Sensory Assessment

The facial nerve is responsible for controlling the muscles of facial expression. During a sensory assessment of this nerve, it is important to observe any asymmetry or weakness in facial movements, as this could indicate nerve damage. To specifically evaluate the strength of the facial muscles and the nerve function, doctors conduct several tests:

  • Asking the patient to raise their eyebrows, smile, and frown to assess the upper facial muscles.
  • Observing movements of the tongue, soft palate, or superior pharynx during swallowing, elicitation of the gag reflex, or whilst the patient repeats consonant sounds can indicate functionality.
  • For the lower facial muscles, checking resistance by asking the patient to squeeze their eyes shut and attempting to pry them open can assess the strength.

The examiner may ask the patient to try closing their eyes a second time to ensure consistency of muscle strength and eliminate any variability that might have occurred due to a momentary lapse in effort or focus.

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