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What condition would be suspected if a patient has normal facial muscle movements on one side and inability to move the other side?
A left central lesion
A right central lesion
A left peripheral lesion
A right peripheral lesion
The correct answer is: A left peripheral lesion
The presented situation describes a patient who exhibits normal facial muscle movements on one side while experiencing an inability to move the muscles on the other side. This pattern of weakness suggests a specific type of nerve involvement. In this case, a left peripheral lesion indicates that the impairment is located in the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) on the left side. The facial nerve controls the muscles of facial expression, and if there is damage to this nerve, it can lead to weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles on the affected side. If one side of the face shows normal movement and the other side does not, it's indicative of a peripheral nerve issue rather than a central lesion. The distinction between peripheral and central lesions is crucial here. A central lesion, such as a stroke affecting the motor cortex, typically results in facial weakness on the lower part of the face corresponding to the side of the lesion, while the forehead would still retain movement due to bilateral innervation. Therefore, if the forehead remains unaffected while the lower facial muscles are weak, a central lesion might be suspected. However, the scenario presented suggests more of a unilateral peripheral nerve involvement affecting all facial muscles on one side. This understanding aligns with the interpretation of signs and symptoms, where the location of the lesion