Patient with Injury to facial nerve in stylomastoid canal will show
**Core Concept**
The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) is a complex nerve responsible for controlling facial expressions, taste sensation, and eye movements. It passes through the stylomastoid foramen (not canal), a bony structure in the temporal bone, before exiting the skull to innervate the muscles of facial expression.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Injury to the facial nerve within the stylomastoid foramen results in a lower motor neuron lesion, leading to weakness or paralysis of the muscles of facial expression on the affected side. This is due to the disruption of the nerve's motor fibers, which control the muscles of facial expression. The affected muscles may include the orbicularis oculi, zygomaticus major, and buccinator.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:**
This is incorrect because the injury location is incorrect - the nerve is not affected at the stylomastoid foramen, but rather at a more proximal location.
**Option B:**
This is incorrect because the symptoms described are more indicative of a lesion at a more distal location, such as the nerve's exit from the stylomastoid foramen.
**Option C:**
This is incorrect because the symptoms described are more indicative of a lesion at a more proximal location, such as the nerve's exit from the brainstem.
**Option D:**
This is incorrect because the symptoms described are more indicative of a lesion at a more distal location, such as the nerve's exit from the stylomastoid foramen.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The facial nerve is responsible for controlling the muscles of facial expression, and injury to the nerve within the stylomastoid foramen results in weakness or paralysis of these muscles.
**Correct Answer: B. Lower motor neuron lesion, leading to weakness or paralysis of the muscles of facial expression on the affected side.**