A 45-year-old patient presents with acute onset of unilatera…
A 45-year-old patient presents with acute onset of unilateral facial paralysis, including inability to close the eye, wrinkle the forehead, and smile on the affected side. The patient also reports pain behind the ear and altered taste. No other neurologic deficits are identified. You are teaching an ACNP student about the underlying mechanism of this condition.Which of the following best explains the pathophysiology of this patient’s condition?