The seventh nerve, also known as the facial nerve, is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈsɛvənθ/. The first syllable "sev" is pronounced with the "eh" sound, as in "let", followed by the "v" sound. The second syllable "enth" is pronounced with the "ih" sound, as in "sit", followed by the "nth" sound. This nerve has a crucial role in facial expression and communication, and its proper spelling is essential in medical texts and communication among healthcare professionals.
The seventh nerve, also known as the facial nerve, is one of the twelve cranial nerves in the human body. It is a mixed nerve, meaning it contains both sensory and motor fibers. The seventh nerve primarily functions as a motor nerve, controlling the muscles responsible for various facial expressions. It also carries sensory information from taste buds located on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Emerging from the pons of the brainstem, the seventh nerve travels through a narrow bony canal called the facial canal within the skull. It then exits the skull through an opening called the stylomastoid foramen, branching out across the face to innervate the muscles of facial expression. In addition to controlling facial muscles, the seventh nerve also plays a vital role in tear production, salivation, and taste sensation.
Damage or dysfunction of the seventh nerve can result in a condition called facial palsy or facial paralysis. This condition leads to the inability to control facial muscles, causing weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. Common causes of facial nerve damage include Bell's palsy, trauma, infections, tumors, and certain medical conditions. Treatment for seventh nerve disorders may include medications to reduce inflammation, physical therapy, or, in severe cases, surgical interventions.
• Seventh cranial n., nervus facialis; under the old nomenclature, which counted but nine cranial nerves, the seventh included what are now called the seventh and the eighth, or the facialis and acusticus.
• 1. Nervus facialis. 2. In the older enumeration of the facial nerves, the seventh comprised the facial, called portio dura of the seventh nerve, and the acoustic or auditory, called portio mollis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The etymology of the word "seventh nerve" can be understood by breaking it down into its components:
1. Seventh: The word "seventh" originates from the Old English word "seofunda", derived from the Proto-Germanic word "sebundon", which means "the seventh". It ultimately traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*septḿ̥", meaning "seven". The concept of numbering nerves likely derives from their ordinal position in the cranial nerves, with the seventh nerve being the seventh in the list.
2. Nerve: The word "nerve" comes from the Latin word "nervus", which denotes a sinew, tendon, or nerve. It can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*sneh₁-", meaning "to spin" or "to twist".