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

Risks include hematomas, infections, prolonged swelling and facial nerve injury. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 27 May 2025

Bell's palsy, Lyme disease, more Partial face paralysis is usually caused by swelling or damage of the facial nerve, damage to the part of the brain that signals the muscles of the face, or weakness caused by diseases like myasthenia gravis and some muscular dystrophies, according to Penn Medicine. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025

Face paralysis can also be caused by Bell's palsy – a somewhat common condition when the facial nerve becomes inflamed – stroke, Lyme disease, shingles or as a side effect of certain medications. —Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2025

However, a somewhat common condition known as Bell’s palsy — when the facial nerve becomes inflamed — can be the root of temporary facial paralysis. —Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for facial nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

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