TeachableMedicalNews article 07252022
Teachable moment in classrooms:
- skeletal muscle chapter –functioning of skeletal muscles depend on neuromuscular junction
- brain anatomy chapter – anatomy and function of cranial nerve VII
- muscular system chapter – actions of muscles of facial expression
- microbiology – viruses need to enter human cells
The news item: A news report appeared recently:
Justin Bieber’s wife Hailey gives update after Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis: ‘Getting better every day’
Justin Bieber has canceled several tour dates due to his Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis. Here’s what we know about his recovery, concert plans.
The article stated that Justin Bieber is suffering from type II Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. This is caused by an activation of the Herpes Zoster virus (causes the disease called shingles) that causes paralysis of the facial muscles, and prevents blinking or smiling on one side of the face.
So, Why Do I Care While it is true that facial paralysis is not a deadly disorder (and only 0.5% of shingles patients develop it), but understanding how it comes about can be useful. Because facial paralysis gives unusual changes to one’s facial expressions, the symptom is highly visible. That highly visible nature makes facial paralysis an early warning sign of strokes or trauma to cranial nerves, disorders that are serious malfunctions of the our nervous system.
Plain English, Please!!! First, let’s talk about what paralysis is. The loss of movement of body part or parts is defined as paralysis. Body parts are moved by muscles, and muscles must receive nerve signals,