Palsy, Bell's

Palsy, Bell's
Paralysis of the facial nerve, the nerve that supplies the facial muscles on one side of the face. The cause of paralysis of the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve) is often not known, but is thought to be due to a virus. The disease typically starts suddenly and causes paralysis of the muscles of the side of the face on which the facial nerve is affected. Treatment is directed toward protecting the eye on the affected side from dryness during sleep. Massage of affected muscles can reduce soreness. Sometimes prednisone is given to reduce inflammation during the first weeks of illness. The prognosis (outlook) with Bell’s palsy is generally good. About 80% of patients recover within weeks to months. Conversely, about 20% of patients do less well. The condition was originally described in 1830 by the Scottish anatomist and neurologist Sir Charles Bell (1774- 1842). The word “palsy” is a corruption (and contracture) of the French word “paralysie” which means “paralysis.”

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Bell's palsy — Paralysis of the facial nerve, producing distortion of one side of the face. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bell's palsy — Palsy Pal sy, n.; pl. {Palsies}. [OE. palesie, parlesy, OF. paralesie, F. paralysie, L. paralysis. See {Paralysis}.] (Med.) Paralysis, complete or partial. See {Paralysis}. One sick of the palsy. Mark ii. 3. [1913 Webster] {Bell s palsy},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Palsy — Pal sy, n.; pl. {Palsies}. [OE. palesie, parlesy, OF. paralesie, F. paralysie, L. paralysis. See {Paralysis}.] (Med.) Paralysis, complete or partial. See {Paralysis}. One sick of the palsy. Mark ii. 3. [1913 Webster] {Bell s palsy}, paralysis of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Bell's palsy — n. [after Charles Bell (1774 1842), Scot anatomist who identified it] a usually temporary, sudden paralysis of the facial nerve resulting in weakened or paralyzed muscles on one side of the face …   English World dictionary

  • Bell-Magendie law — Bell Ma·gen·die law bel .mȧ zhan dē n BELL S LAW Bell Sir Charles (1774 1842) British anatomist. Bell was the leading anatomist of his time as well as an eminent surgeon. In 1802 he published a series of engravings showing the anatomy of the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Bell'spalsy — Bell s palsy n. A unilateral facial muscle paralysis of sudden onset, resulting from trauma, compression, or infection of the facial nerve and characterized by muscle weakness and a distorted facial expression.   [After Sir Charles Bell (1774… …   Universalium

  • Bell's palsy — Bell s′ pal′sy n. pat suddenly occurring paralysis that distorts one side of the face, caused by a lesion of the facial nerve • Etymology: 1855–60; after Charles Bell (1774–1842), Scottish anatomist, who first described it …   From formal English to slang

  • Bell's palsy — Infobox Disease Name = Bell s Palsy Caption = DiseasesDB = 1303 ICD10 = ICD10|G|51|0|g|50 ICD9 = ICD9|351.0 ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = 000773 eMedicineSubj = emerg eMedicineTopic = 56 eMedicine plus = eMedicine2|neuro|413 eMedicine2|ent|719… …   Wikipedia

  • Bell palsy — ▪ pathology       abrupt paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face due to dysfunction of the seventh cranial nerve, the facial nerve. The disorder is named for the Scottish surgeon Sir Charles Bell, who first described the function of the… …   Universalium

  • Palsy — Paralysis, generally partial, whereby a local body area is incapable of voluntary movement (motor function). For example, Bell’s palsy is localized paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. The word “palsy” is a corruption (and… …   Medical dictionary

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