Central Connections of the Facial Nuclei

The image illustrates bilateral innervation of the upper half of the face which results in sparing of the forehead muscles in an upper motor neurone lesion.

An appreciation of the anatomy of the facial nerve is essential in understanding the clinical features and complications of facial paralysis.

The course and connections of the facial nerve are complex, but of particular clinical relevance to the EP are the central connections of the facial nuclei.

Each facial nucleus is bilaterally supplied by upper motor neurones from the cerebral cortex. Lesions within the brain therefore result in sparing of the muscles of the upper half of the face.