What Is Bell's Palsy?
6. Disease Process
The disease begins with an infection or another health problem. Viral infections such as herpes simplex cause inflammation of the facial nerve. Similar to inflammation in any tissue, when it affects tissues around the nerve, swelling occurs.
When this happens, and bearing in mind that the facial nerve travels through a bony pathway, swelling causes compression of nerve cells and the nerve sheath. This prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the nerve cells, which can cause them to die, interrupting nerve impulses. This is why the areas served by the facial nerve stop functioning. The face droops, and sensations are lost because the facial nerve cannot provide the communication path between the affected part of the face, and the brain.
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