facial nerve

noun

Anatomy.

1. either one of the seventh pair of cranial nerves composed of motor fibers that control muscles of the face except those used in chewing.

facial nerve

noun

1. the seventh cranial nerve, supplying the muscles controlling facial expression, glands of the palate and nose, and the taste buds in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue

Word History and Origins

Origin of facial nerve¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

"I thought I was going to die," he said, adding the attack "broke my jaw, caused facial nerve damage and affected me mentally as well".

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The positioning of the parotid gland was important as it was preventing the tumour from damaging facial tissue or harming important nearby structures, including the facial nerve.

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"Some people chose not to have surgery because it's really scary to have surgery on your facial nerve because there is a lot of risk to it."

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Doctors determined the symptoms were a result of swelling of a facial nerve, “most likely caused by a post-viral infection,” she said.

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One side of her face was drooping, apparently from Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can occur when the shingles virus reaches a facial nerve near the ears.

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