Head & neck · Nerve
Facial Nerve
The facial nerve controls the muscles that make facial expressions and carries taste from the front of the tongue. When it stops working on one side, it causes Bell's palsy.
What it is
The facial nerve is a cranial nerve that emerges from the brainstem and fans out across each side of the face.
Where it runs
From the brainstem, through the skull near the ear, spreading across the face.
What it does
Controls the muscles of facial expression, carries taste from the front of the tongue, and supplies some glands (tears and saliva).
When things go wrong
Common problems affecting the facial nerve
- Bell's palsy (sudden weakness of one side of the face)
- Facial nerve injury or infection
Education and reference only. This explains the anatomy in plain terms and is not a diagnosis. New weakness or numbness, facial drooping, or loss of bladder or bowel control can be an emergency — call 999.
Did you know?
An interesting fact
Bell's palsy — sudden drooping of one side of the face — is caused by the facial nerve becoming inflamed, and most people recover well.
Answers
Facial Nerve: frequently asked questions
What is Bell's palsy?
Bell's palsy is sudden weakness or drooping of one side of the face from a problem with the facial nerve. Most people recover, but sudden facial drooping should be assessed urgently to rule out a stroke.
How do I tell Bell's palsy from a stroke?
Both can cause facial drooping, so treat sudden drooping as an emergency and call 999. Use FAST — a stroke often affects the arm and speech too, and typically spares the forehead, but only a professional can be sure.
Related nerves
Explore head & neck nerves
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Nervous system
- Gray's Anatomy for Students
- TeachMeAnatomy — nervous system
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