Question

A patient presents with an anesthetic patch in the areas on the face, as shown in the image below. Which of the following nerves is the most commonly involved in this condition?

• A. Abducens nuclei
• B. Facial nerve
• C. Optic nerve
• D. Trigeminal nerve

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine which nerve is most commonly involved in anesthetic patches on the face, it's important to understand the innervation of facial regions. Each cranial nerve has specific functions and areas of innervation:

• The Facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII) primarily controls the muscles of facial expression but does not provide sensory innervation to facial skin.
• The Trigeminal nerve (Cranial Nerve V) is responsible for sensory innervation of the face, including the forehead, cheeks, and jaw. It is the most common nerve involved in conditions leading to loss of sensation (anesthetic patches) on the face.
• The Optic nerve (Cranial Nerve II) relates to vision and does not affect facial sensation.
• Abducens nuclei control the lateral rectus muscle for eye movement, without involvement in facial sensation.

Given this information, anesthetic patches on the facial skin are typically due to involvement of the Trigeminal nerve, specifically its sensory branches.

Nerve	Function
Facial nerve	Motor function for facial expressions
Trigeminal nerve	Sensory function for facial sensation
Optic nerve	Visual input
Abducens nuclei	Eye movement

Therefore, the correct answer is: Trigeminal nerve.