Facial nerve: Bell palsy: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · Facial nerve: Bell palsy

Sample item

A patient has acute unilateral facial weakness involving inability to wrinkle the forehead or close the eye. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Bell palsy

Bell palsy is an acute lower-motor-neuron facial palsy involving the forehead as well as the lower face. Eye protection is important because incomplete closure risks corneal injury.

Option by option

  • A. Myasthenia gravis

    Myasthenia causes fluctuating fatigable weakness rather than isolated acute facial paralysis.

  • B. Trigeminal neuralgia

    Trigeminal neuralgia causes episodic facial pain, not weakness.

  • C. Cortical stroke

    Cortical stroke often spares the forehead because of bilateral cortical innervation.

  • D. Bell palsy (correct)

    Correct. Forehead involvement supports a peripheral facial palsy.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Bell palsy. Bell palsy is an acute lower-motor-neuron facial palsy involving the forehead as well as the lower face.

Why is "Myasthenia gravis" not the answer?

Myasthenia causes fluctuating fatigable weakness rather than isolated acute facial paralysis.

Why is "Trigeminal neuralgia" not the answer?

Trigeminal neuralgia causes episodic facial pain, not weakness.

Why is "Cortical stroke" not the answer?

Cortical stroke often spares the forehead because of bilateral cortical innervation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Facial nerve: Bell palsy in ENT. Eye protection is important because incomplete closure risks corneal injury.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Facial nerve: Bell palsy?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.