A man in his fifties notices a slight soreness of the cheek near his first upper right molar. Over the next several days the condition becomes much worse and is accompanied by swelling of the cheek and more than normal dryness of the mouth. What is the cause of this problem, how can it be treated, and what potentially serious problem could arise from the method of treatment?

What will be an ideal response?


Upon examination of the sore cheek, it is noticed that there is a small hard lump present. This is diagnosed as a parotid duct stone, and the blockage it is causing to the duct accounts for the symptoms. Surgery is prescribed to remove the stone, but the danger is that the five branches of the facial nerve (the motor nerve to the muscles of facial expression pass through the parotid gland, and during this surgery are in danger of being cut. Cutting one or more of the branches of the facial nerve would result in paralysis of the muscles served by that branch.

Anatomy & Physiology

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Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)

Anatomy & Physiology