Contents
Introduction Development Composition of facial nerve-types of fibres Nuclei i.r.t facial nerve Central connections of facial nerve Facial nerve-segmental description Course anatomy Branches of communication Branches of distribution Ganglia i.r.t facial nerve Course anomalies Surgical anatomy & surface landmarks Nerve injury-sunderlands classification Facial paralysis Syndromes assosciated with facial nerve Other conditions assosciated with facial nerve References
INTRODUCTI ON
INTRODUCTION
The facial nerve is a nerve which controls the muscles on the side of the face. It
allows us to show expression, smile, cry, and wink. Injury to the facial nerve causes a socially and psychologically devastating physical defect; treatment may require extensive rehabilitation or multiple procedures.
The facial nerve is the seventh of the twelve CRANIAL NERVE. Facial Nerve is a mixed nerve consist of Large motor root called as FACIAL
NERVE PROPER and a small sensory root called as NERVUS INTERMEDIUS. The facial nerve is composed of approximately 10,000 neurons, 7,000 of which are myelinated and innervate the nerves of facial expression. Three thousand of the nerve fibers are somatosensory and secretomotor and comprise the nervus intermedius.
DEVELOPME NT
DEVELOPMENT
Facial Nerve developed from 2nd branchial arch. Facial nerve course, branching pattern, and anatomical
more distinct. The facial portion extends to placode The acoustic portion terminates on otocyst
facial nerve roots are recognizable The nervus intermedius arises from the ganglion and passes to brainstem. Motor root fibers pass mainly caudal to ganglion.
th 8
Week
bilateral facial motor nuclei (pons) facial muscles Stapedius, stylohyoid, posterior digastric, buccinator
greater/superficial petrosal nerve facial hiatus/middle cranial fossa joins deep petrosal nerve (symp fibers from cervical plexus) thru pterygoid canal (as vidian nerve) pterygopalatine fossa spheno/pterygopalatine ganglion postganglionic parasympathetic fibers joins zygomaticotemporal nerve(V2) lacrimal gland & seromucinous glands of nasal and oral cavity Superior salivatory nucleus nervus intermedius chorda joins lingual nerve submandibular ganglion postganglioic parasympathteic fibers submandibular and sublingual glands
intermedius geniculate ganglion chorda tympani joins lingual nerve anterior 2/3 tongue, soft and hard palate
Supplies the muscles of facial expression; posterior belly of digastric muscle; stylohyoid, and stapedius.
Parasympathetic innervation of the lacrimal, submandibular, and sublingual glands, as well as mucous membranes of nasopharynx, hard and soft palate.
Taste sensation from the anterior 2/3 of tongue; hard and soft palates
General sensation from the skin of the concha of the auricle and from a small area behind the ear.
Location: deep in the reticular formation of the caudal part of pons,below and in front of abducent nucleus The motor nucleus represents SPECIAL VISCERAL EFFERENT FIBERS( Branchial) It presents the following nuclear subgroups 1. LATERAL 2. INTERMEDIATE 3. MEDIAL- a. Dorso-medial b. Ventro-medial (BY-CARPENTER,1978)
Fibers from motor nucleus pass dorsomedially towards the caudal end of the abducent nucleus,and then run rostrally superficial to that nucleus occupying the FACIAL COLLICULUS of the floor of FOURTH VENTRICLE. At the cranial end of abducent nucleus the fibers bend abruptly downwards and forwards forming an INTERNAL GENU and emerge from lower border of pons through motor root
Other nuclei.
2.Superior salivatory nucleus: It lies dorsomedial to the facial nucleus. It
represents General Visceral Efferent Column. It gives origin to preganglionic secreto-motor fibers which emerge through sensory root
column.primary terminal taste centre . fibres through chorda tympani and from the soft palae through greater petrosal nerve
sensations from the auricle through the auricular branch of vagus nerve
.
4.Nucleus of spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve. It recieves cutaneous
NEURONS
1- Upper motor neuron: Primary
motor cortex (Precentral gyrus) The axons of these neurons enter the Corticonuclear fiber bundle to reach the second lower motor neuron in the Pons. 2- Lower motor neuron: Facial motor nucleus. The facial nucleus is divided into two parts: The upper part receives bilateral innervations, and supplies the muscles of the forehead and eyebrows (temporal branches). The lower part receives innervations mainly from the contra lateral hemisphere, and supplies the muscles of the lower part of the face through the facial nerve.
of the most complete descriptions of the facial nerve's central connections gyri.
Cerebral cortex: voluntary responses arise from pre & post central Corticobulbar tract: discharges from facial motor cerebral area are
carried through its fascicles to the internal capsule, thence through upper midbrain & on to the pontine facial nucleus. The tracts from upper face cross & recross en route to pons, while those of lower face cross only once. descending corticofacial fibres innervate LMN region bilaterally but with contralateral predominance, whereas UMN receive scant direct cortical innervation on either side of brain. . In 1987, Jenny and Saper performed an extensive study of the proximal facial nerve organizations in a primate model.3 They demonstrated
UMN & LMN lesions and their clinical co-relation to corticobulbar tract course & the regions of face affected.
facial nerve organizations in a primate model.They demonstrated that the descending corticofacial fibers innervated the lower facial motor nuclear region bilaterally but with contralateral predominance. The upper facial motor nuclear regions received scant direct cortical innervation on either side of the brain
Extrapyramidal system
The extrapyramidal system consists of the basal ganglia and the descending motor projections other than the fibers of the pyramidal or corticospinal tracts. This system is associated with spontaneous, emotional, mimetic facial motions.
Lower midbrain A lesion in the lower midbrain above the level of the facial nucleus may
cause contralateral paresis of the face and muscles of the extremities, ipsilateral abducens muscle paresis (due to effects on the abducens nerve), and ipsilateral internal strabismus . If the lesion extends far enough laterally to include the emerging facial nerve fibers, a peripheral type of ipsilateral facial paralysis might be apparent.
Pons
The facial motor nucleus is located in the lower third of the pons beneath the fourth ventricle. The neurons leaving the nucleus pass around the abducens nucleus as they emerge from the brain stem
SYNDROMES
Foville syndrome
LOCATION OF LESION
Lateral pons
CHARACTERSTICS FEATURES
Ipsilateral facial paresis, ipsilateral facial analgesia, ipsilateral Homer syndrome, ipsilateral deafness Facial dystonia Unilateral sixth nerve palsy, ipsilateral seventh nerve palsy, contralateral hemiparesis 4
Moebius syndrome
Weber syndrome
Upper midbrain
Ipsilateral loss of direct and consensual pupillary light reflexes, ipsilateral external strabismus, oculomotor paresis
Sphenopalatine ganglion.
Deeply placed in the pterygopalatine fossa, close to sphenoplatine foramen. Triangular/heart shaped, reddish gray in colour. Sensory root: two sphenopalatine branches of maxillary nerve Motor root: from nervus intermedius,through greater superficial petrosal nerve.[sympathetic efferent, preganglionic.].
Sympathetic root: derieved from carotid plexus through deep petrosal nerve. Motor + symathetic root : nerve of pterygoid canal.
Submaxillary ganglion
Situated above the deep portion of the maxillary gland, on the
hyoglossus,, connected to & suspended from lingual nerve, as a small fusiform ganglion. salivatory nucleus via chorda tympani nerve.
supplying the mucous membrane of mouth,duct of submaxillary glands; via lingual nerve to the sublingual gland.
Otic ganglion
Small oval flattened structure lying just below the foramen ovale; medial to mandibular nerve. Relations: lateral mandibular n trunk. medial-origin of tensor palatini muscle. posterior- middle meningeal artery. Branches of communication: 1. pterygoid internus n. [motor & sensory root. Q.] 2. glossopharyngeal & facial n. through lesser petrosal n. root from glossopharyngeal, motor root from facial n. 3. sympathetic root from middle meningeal artery. Preganglionic fibres from via glossopharyngeal from infr salivary/dorsal nucleus. Postganglionic with auriculotemporal n. to the parotid gland. slender filaments to n. of pterygoid canal & chorda tympani. Branches of distribution: tensor veli palatini, tensor tympani.
Ciliary ganglion
Small, sympathetic, about a pinheads size. Situated at the back of orbit, in loose fat b/w optic n. & rectus lateralis muscle. Roots: sensory: from nasociliary n. motor: from branch of oculomotor nerve sympathetic: cavernous plexus
Course anatomy- Facial nerve segments:Intracranial segment:- supranuclear & brainstem parts. Meatal segment:- [13-15mm] from brainstem to internal acoustic meatus. Here nerve lies anterior & superior to VIII cranial nerve components. Intratemporal part:(a) Labyrinthine segment:- [3-4mm] narrow part from fundus of IAC to facial hiatus. Common site of pathology, temporal bone fracture etc. (b) Tympanic segment:- [8-11mm] geniculate ganglion to pyramidal turn. (c) Mastoid segment:- [10-14mm] pyramidal process to stylomastoid foramen. Extracranial segment:- [15-20mm] stylomastoid foramen to pes anserinus [goose foot].variable branching patterns on face.
superficial attachments to the brain,the two roots of the facial nerve pass lateral & forward with the acoustic nerve to the internal acoustic meatus. In the meatus, motor root lies in a groove on the upper & anterior surface of the acoustic nerve, while the sensory root lies in between. [hence the name nervus intermedius].
nerve enters the facial canal at the bottom of the meatus. It moves laterally b/w the cochlea & vestibule towards the medial end of the tympanic cavity,then bends suddenly backwards & arches downwards, behind the tympanic cavity, towards the stylomastoid foramen.(second genu).
Extratemporal part: on
emerging from the stylomastoid foramen, facial nerve runs forward in the substance of parotid, crosses the ECA, & divides behind the ramus of mandible into branches from which offsets are distributed over the side of face, head, upper neck etc, supplying the muscles of this region. These branches & offsets unite to form the parotid plexus.
Branches of distribution
In the facial canal: N. to stapedius
chorda tympani
At exit from SMF: posterior auricular
digastric stylohyoid
On the face:
N. of stapedius: arises opposite the pyramidal eminence & passes through a small canal in this eminence to reach stapedius muscle. Chorda tympani nerve: Arises: from facial nerve as it passes down behind the tympanic cavity, about 6mm above SMF. -Runs upward & forwards in a canal enters tympanic cavity through an aperture on its posterior wall [close to medial surface of tympanic membrane, and on a level with upper end of manubrium of the malleus]. -Transverses the tympanic cavity b/w fibrous & mucous layers of the membrane. Crosses the manubrium of the malleus. -Emerges from tympanic cavity through a foramen at the inner end of petrotympanic -Receives a small branch from otic ganglion. -Joins posterior border of lingual nerve at an acute angle. -Receives few efferents from motor root to enter submaxillary ganglion. -Majority of efferents from to mucous membrane of anterior 2/3rd of tongue.
Posterior auricular nerve: it arises near SMF to run upwards in front of the mastoid process ,where it communicates with 1.auricular branch of vagus
As it descends b/w external acoustic meatus & mastoid process, it divides into 1.auricular branch: supplies auricularis posterior & internal muscles on cranial surface of auricle. 2.occipital branch: larger, passes back along superior nuchal line of occipital bone.supplies occipitalis.
Digastric branch: arises close to the SMF divides into filaments. Supplies posterior belly of digastric muscle.One filament joins glossopharyngeal nerve. Stylohyoid branch: often arises in conjunction with digastric branch.its long & slender, & enters stylohyoideus about its middle.
SMF Facial nerve lies in a plane dividing the parotid gland into its deep & superficial lobes. Two main divisions: temporofacial & cervicofacial Supplies muscles of the face. 5 main branches on the face: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, cervical.
Terminal branches
Temporal branches: crosses zygomatic arch into the temporal region. >supply: auricularis antr & supr >join: zygomaticotemporal branch of maxillary,auriculotemporal branch of mandibular.
>more antr branches supply: frontalis, orbicularis oculi,corrugator. >join: supraorbital & lacrimal br of opthalmic. Zygomatic branches: run across zygomatic bone to lateral angle of orbit >supply: orbicularis oculi >join: filaments from lacrimal branch of opthalmic,zygomaticofacial br maxillary n.
Buccal branches: larger, pass horizontally forward to be distributed below the orbit & around the mouth. >superficial branches: run beneath the skin, above the superficial muscles of face which they supply.some to the procerus. >deep branches: pass beneath the zygoma & quadratus labii superioris. supply: zygomaticus & quadratus labii superioris,small muscles of nose. form infraorbital plexus with the infraorbital nerve. <lower deep branches: supply buccinator & orbicularis oris join: filaments from buccinator br of mandibular n. Mandibular branches: pass forward beneath platysma & triangularis. supplies muscles of lower lip & chin. communicates with mental br of inferior alveolar n.
Cervical branches: runs forward beneath platysma & supplies it. forms a series of arches across side of neck in suprahyoid region. one branch descends to join cervical cutaneous n. from cervical plexus.
with acoustic nerve. 1.with sphenopalatine ganglion via gr.superficial petrosal n. 2.with otic ganglion via a branch joining lesser superficial petrosal n. 3.with the sympathetic plexus on the middle meningeal artery via the external petrosal nerve. auricular branch of vagus 1.with glossopharyngeal n. 2.with vagus n. 3.greater auricular n. [of cervical plx]. 4.auriculotemporal n .[in the parotid]. with lesser occipital n. [behind the ear]. with trigeminal n. branches. with the cutaneous cervical n.
Realtion between facial nerve and vestibulocochlear nerve from brainstem to fundus of IAC
Buccal branches from the two main divisions of facial trunk, not from other branches of facial nerve. Buccal branches arising from two main divisions interconnected with zygomatic branch. Marginal mandibular branch gives nerve twigs to buccal branches. Nerve twigs from zygomatics marginal mandibular branches merge to buccal branch arising from the two main divisions.
Facial nerve at its exit from SMF: [surface anatomy] is situated 2.5cm from the surface, opposite the middle of the anterior border of mastoid process, a horizontal line from this point to the ramus of mandible overlies the stem of the nerve. Localization of the facial nerve during parotid surgery: Tragal pointer: points to main trunk proximal to Pes, 1-1.5 cm deep & inferior to the pointer. Tympanomastoid suture: traced medially, main trunk of VII lies 6-8mm deep to suture line.[suture is 6-8mm lateral to SMF]. Posterior belly of digastric: guide to SMF. Trunk of VII lies just posterior & superior to cephalic margin of the muscle. Styloid process: sits 5-8mm deep to tympanomastoid suture, VII trunk lies on its posterolateral aspect near its base. Main trunk can also be found midway b/w,& 10mm posterior to, the cartilaginous tragal pointer of external auditory canal & posterior belly of digastric muscle. Retrograde identification along a terminal branch.
1.
2.
3. 4. 5. 6.
Frontal branch: lies underneath frontalis, superficial to deep temporal fascia,so dissect deep to subcutaneous plane/fascia.
Marginal mandibular branch: runs along the inferior border of parotid, superficial to the retromandibular vein & lies along along the body of mandible[or 1-2mm below in 20%cases]. It lies deep to platysma through most of the course, but becomes superficial approx 2cm lateral to corner of mouth, & ends on the undersurface of the muscle.
Diagnostic Test
Causes of facial nerve disorder vary from unknown to life threatening. Sometimes, there is a specific treatment for the problem. Accordingly, it is important to investigate why the problem has occurred. The specific tests used for diagnosis will vary from patient to patient, but include: Hearing tests: Hearing tests are done to assess the status of the auditory nerve. The stapedial reflex test can evaluate the branch of the facial nerve that supplies motor fibers to one of the muscles in the middle ear. Balance tests: Will help find out if part of the auditory nerve is involved. Tear tests: The loss of the ability to form tears may help to locate the site and severity of a facial nerve lesion.
Taste tests: The loss of taste in the front of the tongue may help locate the site and severity of a facial nerve lesion. Salivation test: Decreased flow of saliva may help locate the site and severity of a facial nerve lesion.
Imaging studies: help determine if there is infection, a tumor, a bone fracture, or any other abnormality. These studies are usually a CT scan and/or a MRI scan. Electrical tests: Stimulation of the nerve by an electrical current tests whether the nerve can still cause muscles to contract. It can be used to evaluate progression of the disease. For example, if testing indicates equal muscle response on both sides of the face, the patient can be expected to have
complete return of facial function in three to six weeks without significant deformity
Class I- neuropraxia: >pressure on nerve trunk, causing conduction block at pressure site. >no disruption of axonal activity or connective elements. >quick complete recovery on removal of pressure. >stimulation of nerve distal to block can propagate impulses when no impulses can cross the block. Class II- axontemesis: >more severe injury; wallerian degeneration of axon distal to injury,down to motor end plate. >connective tissue elements intact, so nerve regenerates on removal of insult. delayed healing. [1mm/day]. Class III- endoneurotmesis: >severe lesion, disruption of axon & endoneurium, wallerian degeneration occurs. >incomplete recovery on regeneration,because the axons regenerate into wrong/no endoneurium. Class IV- perineurotmesis: >disruption of axon, endoneurium & perineurium. >greater chance of abberant regeneration than in class III injury. Class V- epineurotmesis: >disruption of axon as well as connective tissue elements. >no chance for regeneration unless transected ends are surgically re approximated.
III
Moderate dysfunction
IV
Moderately severe Obvious weakness or disfiguring asymmetry; dysfunction normal symmetry and tone at rest; incomplete eye closure Severe dysfunction Only barely perceptible motion; asymmetry at rest Total paralysis No movement
V VI
Facial paralysis
Etiology:
Idiopathic: bells palsy.
media, mastoiditis, EBV, poliomyelitis, basilar meningitis, sarcoidosis, TB, coxsackie, mumps, HIV, leprosy etc.
Congenital: Mobius synd, I/U trauma, perinatal intracranial
bleed.
Metabolic
[hypothyroid,hyperparathyroid,osteopetrosis,diabetes mellitus],
Vascular, cleidocranial dysostosis, melkerson rosenthal synd, MS, myasthenia gravis.
Causes of unilateral palsy: cerebellopontine angle tumour, HZV,bells palsy, trauma, surgery related, CULLP.contralateral with UMN lesion. Causes of bilateral palsy: brainstem stroke, contusion, glioma, myotonic dystrophy, mobius synd, myasthenia gravis, guillain barre synd, autoimmune demyelination, miller fischer synd, melkersson rosenthal synd, sarcoidosis, lyme disease.
arch structures. Anomalies include auricular deformities, preauricular tags,EAC atresia, ossicular malformations, VII n. hypoplasia, absent chorda tympani, colobomas, vertebral anomalies.
Guillain Barre synd: autoimmune disorder causing acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy..ascending motor weakness with involvement of other cranial nerves,I,III,IV,VI. Opthalmoplegia, paraesthesiae.
involvement.
Heerfordt synd / Uveoparotid fever: form of sarcoidosis.
Bells palsy.
Definition: Acute, idiopathic, unilateral facial paresis or paralysis in a pattern consistent with peripheral facial nerve dysfunction, which maybe partial or complete; occuring with equal frequency on the right & left sides of face. Etiology: vascular causes, herpes viruses, inheritance. Additional symptoms: otalgia, oropharyngeal/facial numbness, impaired tolerance to ordinary noise levels, taste disturbances. Prognosis: fair to good. signf improvement within 3 weeks to months. full recovery in 70% cases. Management: steroid therapy: p/o prednisolone 1mg/kg divided. eyecare: tape shut, gold implants in eyelids, patch, protective ointment & artificial
nerve[more fascicles,longer graft 40cm] grafts. Direct nerve repair Cross facial grafting Facial hypoglossal anastomosis Removal of other known etiology: tumours, trauma management [temporal #] etc. Mastoidectomy or middle cranial fossa decompression.
Spastic pareitic facial contracture: damage at nuclear/supranuclear level. [causes: intrinsic pontine disease- stroke/ neoplasm/ MS, cerebellopontine angle mass, bells palsy, Guillain barre synd.
Blepharospasm: bilateral episodic involuntary orbicularis oculi contractions.sometimes assosc with lower facial musculature spasm, orofacial dyskinesia etc.
etiol: essential, progressive supranuclear palsy, parkinsonism, MS, brainstem stroke. management: clonazepam, botulinum toxin [chemodenervation], selective nerve sectioning, myectomies.
Hemifacial spasm: usually unlateral, involving half of facial muscle, typially lasting several mins at a time, present during sleep.
etiol: post bells, abberant vascular loop compressing VII in subarachnoid space where it exits pons. treatment: carbamazepine/clonazepam etc., chemodenervation, surgical. Facial myokymia: myokymia is spontaneous,fine fascicular muscle contractions of muscle without muscular atrophy or weakness.usually benign, self limiting. If persistent, consider MS, brainstem glioma, stroke. Jaw winking syndrome: a facial synkinesis, triggerd by jaw opening, causing closure of the eyelids on the side of facial palsy. [usually assosc with congenital facial palsy] .
References.
Anatomy of the human body Henry Gray.20th ed. Sichers & DuBruls oral anatomy-8th ed Clinical anatomy for medical students-Richard.S.Snell-6th ed Cunninghams manual of practical anatomy vol.3.15ed.G.J.Romanes Oral & maxillofacial surgery-the biomedical & clinical basis of surgical practice-vol1 Daniel.M.Laskin. Textbook of oral & maxillofacial surgery-Gustav.O.Kruger Contemprary oral & maxillofacial surgery-Peterson,Ellis,Hupp,Tucker Principles of oral surgery-JR Moore,GV Gillbe Burkets oral medicine-diagnosis & treatment Textbook of oral pathology-Shafer,Hine,Levy Concise Oxford textbook of medicine-Ledingham,Warrell Harrisons principles of internal medicine Davidsons principles of prctice of medicine Neuroopthalmolgy review manual rev 5th ed.Amy Solomon. Clinical signf of various anastomotic branches of facial nerve [katz,catalano & co] JAMA,otolaryng & head & neck surg, vol113,no.9,sep 87. Branching patterns of facial nerve [kwak & co]- J surg rediol anat 26[6], 494-500,dec 2004. Bells palsy BMJ clinical evidence [online ed] julian holand Bells palsy [DH Gilden]. New eng journal of medicine.vol351,no.13,1323-1331,sep 2004. Bells palsy a case study.[domanico & co] IJANP issn 1528-6064. Culled from the net- articles from e-medicine.com Facial n anatomy- otolaryng article- patil & co,dept of otolaryng,george washington univ.[sep 06] Congenital facial paralyis- lunstrom,allen & co,univ of colorado school of medicine.[jun 06] Facial nerve intratemporal bone trauma- otolaryng article- massa,westerburg& co,univ of BC,canada. Facial nerve repair- plastic & reconstructive surg article- byrne,hillge,univ of minnesota med school. GR presentations[online ed],dept of otolaryng head neck surg,univ of texas- facial nerve paralysis-oct 94. GR presntn[online ed] dept of otolaryng head neck surg, univ of texas- anatomy & physiology of the salivary glands.