Facial Palsy:

Facial Palsy is a congenital deformity that dates from birth, or an acquired deformity, which causes complete or partial paralysis of the facial motion. The act of facial motion starts in the brain and travels through the facial nerves to the muscles in the face. These muscles then contract in response to a stimulus. Inside the skull, the facial nerve is a single nerve. Once the nerve is traced outside the skull, it branches into many smaller limbs that go to many different facial muscles. These muscles control facial expression. The coordinated activity of this nerve and these muscles cause motions such as smiling, blinking, frowning, and a full range of normal facial motions. Diseases or injuries affecting the brain, the facial nerve, or the muscles of the face can cause facial palsy.

For more detailed information, please download our free booklet, A Guide to Understanding Facial Palsy and folleto en Espanol.

More Information:
Stories of Facial Paralysis on The Mighty

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