INBDE COMPILED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
100% CORRECT!!!
Patient-Case:
A-52-year-old-Caucasian-man-reports-sudden-inability-to-move-one-side-of-his-face-
and-difficulty-closing-his-eye.-He-also-mentions-ringing-in-his-ear,-reduced-taste-
sensation,-and-a-slightly-dry-mouth.-No-relevant-medical-history-is-noted.-On-exam,-
he-has-facial-paralysis-affecting-the-entire-left-side-of-his-face,-including-the-
forehead.-Tenderness-is-noted-behind-the-left-ear,-but-his-eyes-remain-moist.
Question:
Which-cranial-nerve-is-most-likely-affected?
A.-Vagus-nerve-(CN-X)
B.-Facial-nerve-(CN-VII)
C.-Glossopharyngeal-nerve-(CN-IX)
D.-Trigeminal-nerve-(CN-V)
Answer:
B.-Facial-nerve-(CN-VII)
• This-nerve-controls-the-muscles-responsible-for-facial-expression-and-the-
stapedius-muscle,-which-reduces-sound-vibration.-It-also-carries-taste-
sensation-from-the-anterior-two-thirds-of-the-tongue-and-passes-through-the-
parotid-gland.-Damage-here-explains-facial-paralysis,-taste-loss,-ear-
symptoms,-and-dry-mouth.
The-facial-nerve-(CN-VII)-exits-the-skull-through?
A.-the-stylomastoid-foramen-and-passes-through-the-parotid-gland.
B.-foramen-ovale-and-passes-deep-to-the-parotid-gland.
C.-the-jugular-foramen-and-passes-superficial-to-the-parotid-gland.
D.-through-the-external-acoustic-meatus-and-passes-through-the-parotid-gland.
, A
Patient:-52-year-old-white-male.
Chief-complaint:-"Suddenly-I-can’t-move-half-my-face-or-close-my-eye-and-my-ear-
is-ringing!-Everything-has-less-taste.-My-mouth-is-a-little-dry."
Background/or-patient-history:-Not-applicable.
Current-Findings:-Symptoms-appeared-suddenly.-Facial-paralysis-on-the-left-half-
of-the-face,-including-the-forehead.-The-patient-has-tenderness-posterior-to-his-left-
ear.-Eyes-are-moist.
What-is-the-location-of-the-lesion?-(Picture-on-definition-side)
The-lesion-is-distal-to-the-geniculate-ganglion,-so-the-patient-has-moist-eyes,but-is-
proximal-to-the-nerve-to-stapedius-(which-dampens-sound),-the-chorda-
tympani(which-consists-of-taste-fibers-from-the-anterior-2/3-of-the-tongue-
andparasympathetics-to-the-submandibular-ganglion)-and-branches-to-the-muscles-
of-facialexpression.
Patient:-52-year-old-white-male.
Chief-complaint:-"Suddenly-I-can’t-move-half-my-face-or-close-my-eye-and-my-ear-
is-ringing!-Everything-has-less-taste.-My-mouth-is-a-little-dry."
Background/or-patient-history:-Not-applicable.
Current-Findings:-Symptoms-appeared-suddenly.-Facial-paralysis-on-the-left-half-
of-the-face,-including-the-forehead.-The-patient-has-tenderness-posterior-to-his-left-
ear.-Eyes-are-moist.
Which-nerve-is-responsible-for-the-patients-loss-of-taste?
ANSWERS WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
100% CORRECT!!!
Patient-Case:
A-52-year-old-Caucasian-man-reports-sudden-inability-to-move-one-side-of-his-face-
and-difficulty-closing-his-eye.-He-also-mentions-ringing-in-his-ear,-reduced-taste-
sensation,-and-a-slightly-dry-mouth.-No-relevant-medical-history-is-noted.-On-exam,-
he-has-facial-paralysis-affecting-the-entire-left-side-of-his-face,-including-the-
forehead.-Tenderness-is-noted-behind-the-left-ear,-but-his-eyes-remain-moist.
Question:
Which-cranial-nerve-is-most-likely-affected?
A.-Vagus-nerve-(CN-X)
B.-Facial-nerve-(CN-VII)
C.-Glossopharyngeal-nerve-(CN-IX)
D.-Trigeminal-nerve-(CN-V)
Answer:
B.-Facial-nerve-(CN-VII)
• This-nerve-controls-the-muscles-responsible-for-facial-expression-and-the-
stapedius-muscle,-which-reduces-sound-vibration.-It-also-carries-taste-
sensation-from-the-anterior-two-thirds-of-the-tongue-and-passes-through-the-
parotid-gland.-Damage-here-explains-facial-paralysis,-taste-loss,-ear-
symptoms,-and-dry-mouth.
The-facial-nerve-(CN-VII)-exits-the-skull-through?
A.-the-stylomastoid-foramen-and-passes-through-the-parotid-gland.
B.-foramen-ovale-and-passes-deep-to-the-parotid-gland.
C.-the-jugular-foramen-and-passes-superficial-to-the-parotid-gland.
D.-through-the-external-acoustic-meatus-and-passes-through-the-parotid-gland.
, A
Patient:-52-year-old-white-male.
Chief-complaint:-"Suddenly-I-can’t-move-half-my-face-or-close-my-eye-and-my-ear-
is-ringing!-Everything-has-less-taste.-My-mouth-is-a-little-dry."
Background/or-patient-history:-Not-applicable.
Current-Findings:-Symptoms-appeared-suddenly.-Facial-paralysis-on-the-left-half-
of-the-face,-including-the-forehead.-The-patient-has-tenderness-posterior-to-his-left-
ear.-Eyes-are-moist.
What-is-the-location-of-the-lesion?-(Picture-on-definition-side)
The-lesion-is-distal-to-the-geniculate-ganglion,-so-the-patient-has-moist-eyes,but-is-
proximal-to-the-nerve-to-stapedius-(which-dampens-sound),-the-chorda-
tympani(which-consists-of-taste-fibers-from-the-anterior-2/3-of-the-tongue-
andparasympathetics-to-the-submandibular-ganglion)-and-branches-to-the-muscles-
of-facialexpression.
Patient:-52-year-old-white-male.
Chief-complaint:-"Suddenly-I-can’t-move-half-my-face-or-close-my-eye-and-my-ear-
is-ringing!-Everything-has-less-taste.-My-mouth-is-a-little-dry."
Background/or-patient-history:-Not-applicable.
Current-Findings:-Symptoms-appeared-suddenly.-Facial-paralysis-on-the-left-half-
of-the-face,-including-the-forehead.-The-patient-has-tenderness-posterior-to-his-left-
ear.-Eyes-are-moist.
Which-nerve-is-responsible-for-the-patients-loss-of-taste?
