Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy
Paralysis of the facial nerve, the nerve that supplies the facial muscles on one side of the face. Bell's palsy is also called facial nerve paralysis. The cause of facial nerve paralysis is often not known, but is thought to be due to a virus. The facial nerve is the 7th cranial nerve. The disease typically starts suddenly and causes paralysis of the muscles of the side of the face on which the facial nerve is affected. Treatment is directed toward protecting the eye on the affected side from dryness during sleep. Massage of affected muscles can reduce soreness. Sometimes prednisone is given to reduce inflammation during the first weeks of illness. The prognosis (outlook) with Bell’s palsy is generally good. About 80% of patients recover within weeks to months. Conversely, about 20% of patients do less well. The condition was originally described in 1830 by the Scottish anatomist and neurologist Sir Charles Bell (1774- 1842). The word “palsy” is a corruption (and contracture) of the French word “paralysie” which means “paralysis.”

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Bell's palsy n paralysis of the facial nerve producing distortion on one side of the face

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paralysis of the facial nerve causing weakness of the muscles of one side of the face and an inability to close the eye. In some patients hearing may be affected so that sounds seem abnormally loud, and a loss of taste sensation may occur. The cause of this condition is usually a viral infection, and recovery normally occurs spontaneously.
Sir C. Bell (1774-1842), Scottish physiologist

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bell's palsy — Palsy Pal sy, n.; pl. {Palsies}. [OE. palesie, parlesy, OF. paralesie, F. paralysie, L. paralysis. See {Paralysis}.] (Med.) Paralysis, complete or partial. See {Paralysis}. One sick of the palsy. Mark ii. 3. [1913 Webster] {Bell s palsy},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bell's palsy — Paralysis of the facial nerve, producing distortion of one side of the face. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bell's palsy — n. [after Charles Bell (1774 1842), Scot anatomist who identified it] a usually temporary, sudden paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in weakened or paralyzed muscles on one side of the face …   English World dictionary

  • Bell's palsy — Infobox Disease Name = Bell s Palsy Caption = DiseasesDB = 1303 ICD10 = ICD10|G|51|0|g|50 ICD9 = ICD9|351.0 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 000773 eMedicineSubj = emerg eMedicineTopic = 56 eMedicine plus = eMedicine2|neuro|413 eMedicine2|ent|719… …   Wikipedia

  • Bell's palsy — Bell s′ pal′sy n. pat suddenly occurring paralysis that distorts one side of the face, caused by a lesion of the facial nerve • Etymology: 1855–60; after Charles Bell (1774–1842), Scottish anatomist, who first described it …   From formal English to slang

  • Bell's palsy — noun Etymology: Sir Charles Bell died 1842 Scottish anatomist Date: circa 1860 paralysis of the facial nerve producing distortion on one side of the face …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Bell's palsy — Pathol. suddenly occurring paralysis that distorts one side of the face, caused by a lesion of the facial nerve. [1855 60; named after Charles Bell (1774 1842), Scottish anatomist, who first described it] * * * …   Universalium

  • Bell's palsy — noun paralysis of the facial nerve causing muscular weakness in one side of the face. Origin C19: named after the Scottish anatomist Sir Charles Bell, who first described it …   English new terms dictionary

  • Bell's palsy — paralysis of the facial nerve causing weakness of the muscles of one side of the face and an inability to close the eye. In some patients hearing may be affected so that sounds seem abnormally loud, and a loss of taste sensation may occur. The… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Bell's palsy — /bɛlz ˈpɔlzi/ (say belz pawlzee) noun paralysis of muscles in the face caused by inflammation of the nerve controlling facial muscles where it travels through the bones of the skull. {named after Scottish anatomist, Charles Bell, 1774–1842, who… …  

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