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What happens if there is a lesion of the facial nerve at the level of the stylomastoid foramen?

A. Loss of taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
B. Paralysis of the muscles of facial expression
C. Loss of hearing in the affected ear
D. Difficulty swallowing

Answer :

Final answer:

A lesion at the level of the stylomastoid foramen would mostly result in paralysis of the facial muscles, as these are controlled by the facial nerve which exits at this location. However, taste, hearing, and swallowing functions are not primarily controlled by the facial nerve and so would not usually be directly affected by such a lesion.

Explanation:

If there is a lesion of the facial nerve at the level of the stylomastoid foramen, the outcome is paralysis of the muscles of facial expression. This is because the facial nerve, which exits the skull via the stylomastoid foramen, is responsible for controlling these muscles. It is also involved in the gustatory sensation, as it carries taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. However, this lesion won't lead directly to a loss of taste, as taste can still be conveyed by other cranial nerves, such as the glossopharyngeal nerve. Moreover, the facial nerve is not primarily responsible for hearing or swallowing, so these functions would typically not be affected by a lesion in this area.

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