Question

After suffering a head injury, a patient exhibits weak and uncoordinated movement of the jaw as well as numbness of the tongue and lower gums. Based on these symptoms, predict which nerve might have been damaged.

Answer 1

The patient's symptoms suggest damage to the trigeminal nerve, which controls jaw movement and sensations in the face. Damage to this nerve can cause weakness and numbness in the jaw, tongue, and lower gums.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's symptoms suggest damage to the trigeminal nerve.

The trigeminal nerve controls the muscles of chewing and is responsible for sensations in the face. Weak and uncoordinated movement of the jaw, along with numbness of the tongue and lower gums, are consistent with trigeminal nerve damage.

The trigeminal nerve arises from the brainstem and damage to this nerve can cause various sensory and motor deficits in the face and mouth.