What causes central facial palsy?

What causes central facial palsy?

Central facial palsy is the paralysis of the lower half of one side of the face. This condition is often caused by a stroke. This condition is often the result of damage of the upper motor neurons of the facial nerve.

Is Bells palsy central or peripheral?

Bell’s palsy is a peripheral palsy of the facial nerve that results in muscle weakness on one side of the face. Affected patients develop unilateral facial paralysis over one to three days with forehead involvement and no other neurologic abnormalities.

How can you tell the difference between peripheral and central facial palsy?

In a central lesion, the forehead should lift symmetrically, due to bilateral cortical innervation of the frontalis muscle. However, in a peripheral lesion, the patient will be unable to wrinkle their forehead on one side, or have fewer wrinkles on that side.

What does it mean if you have Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head. Bell’s palsy can strike anyone at any age.

Who is most at risk for Bell’s palsy?

While men and women are affected equally by Bell’s palsy, there is an increased risk in those with diabetes and women who are pregnant or recently post-partum. Recognizing central versus peripheral seventh nerve palsy is the first step in diagnosis. Central facial nerve palsy causes paralysis of only the lower half of one side of the face.

How does peripheral seventh nerve palsy affect the face?

In contrast, peripheral seventh nerve palsy occurs when the facial nerve fibers are damaged after exiting the brainstem thus both tracts are affected resulting in paralysis of both upper and lower face muscles. This causes progressive onset of the characteristic unilateral facial paralysis involving the forehead, eye and lower face.

What does it mean to have central facial palsy?

Jump to navigation Jump to search. Central facial palsy (colloquially referred to as central seven) is a symptom or finding characterized by paralysis or paresis of the lower half of one side of the face. It usually results from damage to upper motor neurons of the facial nerve.