Cranial Nerves

(M1.NE.17.4756) A 4-year-old male is accompanied by his mother to a head and neck surgeon for a follow-up visit after the patient underwent a branchial cyst operation. The child’s immediate post-operative period was uneventful. However, the mother reports that the child has had trouble speaking since the operation. His words appear more slurred than before. The child’s pain has been well controlled with acetaminophen. The child was born at 34 weeks’ gestation and stayed one day in the neonatal intensive care unit for prematurity prior to being discharged without any abnormal findings. On examination, the incision is clean, dry, non-erythematous, and shows signs of healing. The child is asked to stick out his tongue and findings are shown in Figure A. Which of the following muscles is most likely affected in this patient?

(M1.NE.14.40) A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after being found down in the middle of the street. Bystanders reported to the police that they had seen the man as he exited a local bar, where he was subsequently assaulted. He sustained severe facial trauma, including multiple lacerations and facial bone fractures. The man is taken to the operating room by the ENT team, who attempted to reconstruct his facial bones with multiple plates and screws. Several days later, he complains of the inability to open his mouth wide or to completely chew his food, both of which he seemed able to do prior to the surgery. Where does the affected nerve exit the skull?

(M1.NE.14.41) A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after being found down in the middle of the street. Bystanders reported to the police that they had seen the man as he exited a local bar, and he was subsequently assaulted. He sustained severe facial trauma, including multiple lacerations and facial bone fractures. The man is taken to the operating room by the ENT team, who attempt to reconstruct his facial bones with multiple plates and screws. Several days later, he complains of the inability to open his mouth wide or to completely chew his food, both of which he seemed able to do prior to surgery. Which of the following is a characteristic of the injured nerve branch?

(M1.NE.14.26) Where does the only cranial nerve without a thalamic relay nucleus enter the skull?