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facial nerve
noun
: either of the seventh pair of cranial nerves that supply motor fibers especially to the muscles of the face and jaw and sensory and parasympathetic fibers to the tongue, palate, and fauces
Examples of facial nerve in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bell’s palsy—an inflammation that affects the facial nerves—can also sometimes show up and cause your face to get weak or droop on one side.
—Julia Sullivan, SELF, 6 May 2024
An incision is made along the ear, avoiding damage to the facial nerve.
—Adrienne Dellwo, Verywell Health, 15 July 2022
Related According to the Mayo Clinic, Ramsay Hunt syndrome happens when a case of the shingles impacts the facial nerve near the ear.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2023
There are different treatment options for Bell's palsy, including medications to help recover facial nerve function and relieve pain.
—Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 13 July 2023
The Mayo Clinic explains that the disease occurs when a shingles outbreak affects the facial nerve near one's ear.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 10 May 2023
Some patients can experience complications that include infection, facial nerve damage, permanent numbness or salivary duct injuries, according to the ASPS.
—Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 11 Apr. 2023
Risk of facial nerve damage: Although uncommon, cochlear implant surgery comes with the risk of facial nerve damage, which could lead to the paralysis of certain facial muscles.
—Jeremy Hillpot, Discover Magazine, 4 May 2021
Surgeons will ensure this careful incision is in an area that won't impact salivary glands or facial nerves, remove the fat manually, and then close up the incision to allow for healing.
—Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 11 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'facial nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1798, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near facial nerve
Cite this Entry
“Facial nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/facial%20nerve. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
facial nerve
noun
: either of the seventh pair of cranial nerves that supply motor fibers especially to the muscles of the face and jaw and sensory and parasympathetic fibers to the tongue, palate, and fauces
called also seventh cranial nerve, seventh nerve
More from Merriam-Webster on facial nerve
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about facial nerve
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