The facial motor nucleus in the lower pons contains the motor neurons that move the muscles of facial expression. Its fibres loop around the abducens nucleus (the internal genu) before leaving the brainstem as cranial nerve VII. The part supplying the forehead receives input from both sides of the brain, but the part supplying the lower face mainly from the opposite side.
| Location | Ventrolateral tegmentum of the lower pons, deep to the facial colliculus and abducens nucleus |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Anterior inferior cerebellar artery; Basilar artery pontine branches |
Controls facial expression, eye closure, lip movement and the stapedius muscle that dampens loud sounds.
A lesion of the facial nucleus or nerve causes weakness of the whole half of the face, including the forehead (lower motor neuron pattern). A stroke above the nucleus spares the forehead because of bilateral input to the upper face. Millard-Gubler syndrome combines facial and abducens palsy with contralateral hemiplegia.
Weakness of all facial muscles on one side, including the forehead, from damage to the nucleus or nerve.
A ventral pontine lesion causing ipsilateral facial and abducens weakness with contralateral hemiplegia.
A congenital condition with underdevelopment of the facial and abducens nuclei causing facial paralysis and impaired lateral gaze from birth.
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