Aims and objectives
The main purpose of this article is to
demonstrate the normal anatomic structure of the facial nerve
review the pathological conditions that can affect it and
associate it with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Methods and materials
In this section we willdescribe the functional anatomy of the facial nerve as well as the anatomic landmarks that will aid the general radiologist to identify it and separate normal findings from disorders.
The facial nerve (cranial nerve-CN VII) is a mixed nerve with motor,
sensory and parasympathetic fibers.
Motor branches: innervation of the
occipitalis muscle
posterior auricular muscle
stylohyoid muscle
posterior belly of the digastric muscle
stapedius muscle
muscles of facial expression
Sensory branches:
sensation of taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue...
Results
Due to long route of the facial nerve various pathology can affect it at any level of its course and both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging represents the main modalities for revealing that benign and malignant pathological conditions.
While CT imaging provides higher spatial resolution for inspecting the bony structures,
the facial canal and any calcifications within lesions,
MRI is superior at evaluation of the facial nerve itself and most of its pathology.
Neoplasms of the facial nerve have to do primary or secondary...
Conclusion
Facial nerve is a mixed cranial nerve with motor,
parasympathetic and sensory branches having a complex anatomic pathway that consists of intraaxial,
canalicular,
labyrinthic,
tympanic,
mastoid and extracranial segments.
Pathology can occur at any point.
Understanding the normal anatomy, variations and range of pathologies will assist the radiologists in correctly diagnosing lesions at different levels along the route of the nerve.
Personal information
D.
Stergiou1,
I.
Vlachou1,
G.
Kyprianos1,
V.
Zacharopoulos1,
G.
Mantzikopoulos2,
A.
Petineli1,
C.
Kokkinis2
Department of Radiology,
KAT General Hospital,
Athens,
Greece.
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