Facial Nerve Decompression

Glossary

Bell's palsy: Another name for facial palsy, the usually one-sided, temporary numbing of the facial muscles, caused by an inflamed nerve.

Herpes: Skin disease marked by clusters of small vesicles.

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, with both mental and motor symptoms.


Parasympathetic: Division of the autonomic (automatic) nervous system. Parasympathetic nerves control functions of digestion, heart and lung activity, constriction of eye pupils and many other normal functions of the body.

Tinnitus: Ringing in the ears. Tinnitus has many causes including medications (such as aspirin and other antiinflammatory drugs), aging, and ear trauma.

Tympanostomy: Surgical puncture of the eardrum, for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.