| facial nucleus | A group of motor neurons located in the ventrolateral region of the lower pontine tegmentum and innervating the facial muscles, the stapedius muscle in the middle ear, the posterior limb of the musculus digastricus, and the stylohyoid muscle. Synonym: nucleus nervi facialis, facial motor nucleus, motor nucleus of facial nerve, nucleus facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| facial pain | Pain in the face including the orofacial and craniofacial regions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| facial palsy | <neurology> A condition that involves the facial nerve (VII cranial nerve) and results in the paralysis of one side of the face. Bell's (facial nerve palsy) can be differentiated from a central (stroke) deficit by the inability to raise the eyebrow on the affected side. (27 Sep 1997) |
| facial paralysis | Paralysis of the facial muscles, usually unilateral, due to either a lesion involving the nucleus or the facial nerve peripheral to the nucleus (peripheral facial paralysis) or a supranuclear lesion in the cerebrum or upper brainstem (central facial paralysis). With latter, facial weakness is usually partial and the upper portion of the face is relatively spared, due to bilateral cortical connections. (12 Dec 1998) |
| facial plane | A measurement of the bony profile of the face. Synonym: nasion-pogonion measurement. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial plexus | An autonomic plexus on the facial artery derived from the external carotid plexus; it sends a branch to the submandibular ganglion. Synonym: external maxillary plexus, plexus maxillaris externus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial profile | The outline form of the face from a lateral view, the sagittal outline form of the face. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial reflex | In a case of coma from severe apoplexy, pressure on the eyeballs causes contraction of the facial muscles of expression on the side opposite to the lesion; if coma due to diabetes, uraemia, or other toxic cause the reflex is present on both sides. Synonym: facial reflex, Mondonesi's reflex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial root | The nerve constituting the parasympathetic and sympathetic root of the pterygopalatine ganglion; it is formed in the region of the foramen lacerum by the union of the greater superficial petrosal and the deep petrosal nerves, and runs through the pterygoid canal to the pterygopalatine fossa. Synonym: nervus canalis pterygoidei, radix facialis, facial root, vidian nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial spasm | Involuntary twitching of the facial muscles, sometimes unilateral. Synonym: Bell's spasm, convulsive tic, facial spasm, histrionic spasm, mimic convulsion, mimic spasm, mimic tic, palmus, prosopospasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial tic | Involuntary twitching of the facial muscles, sometimes unilateral. Synonym: Bell's spasm, convulsive tic, facial spasm, histrionic spasm, mimic convulsion, mimic spasm, mimic tic, palmus, prosopospasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial tics | <neurology> A repetitive spasmodic movement of the eyes or facial muscles. May also involve the neck or shoulders. Tics are most common in children. The cause is unknown but may be linked to stress. Tics are more common in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disease. Most tics require no treatment and resolve on their own with patient education. (27 Sep 1997) |
| facial triangle | A triangle formed by lines connecting the basion, the prosthion, and the nasion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| facial trophoneurosis | Atrophy of one half of the face which is sometimes progressive, and is of unknown cause. (12 Dec 1998) |
| facial vein | <anatomy, vein> A continuation of the angular vein at the medial angle of the eye. It passes diagonally downward and outward, joining with the retromandibular vein below the border of the lower jaw before emptying into the internal jugular vein. Synonym: anterior facial vein, vena facialis anterior, vena facialis. (05 Mar 2000) |