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Pathology · single question

A herpes zoster lesion does NOT cross the middle line. Same case — what nerve is affected?

  1. CN IX (glossopharyngeal nerve)
  2. CN VII (facial nerve)
  3. CN V (trigeminal nerve)
  4. CN XII (hypoglossal nerve)
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Correct answer: B. CN VII (facial nerve)

  • A. CN IX can be affected by herpes zoster causing throat/ear pain (geniculate neuralgia), but is not the typical answer in this question series.
  • B. Herpes Zoster affecting the oral/facial region follows the TRIGEMINAL NERVE (CN V) distribution for oral lesions, or the FACIAL NERVE (CN VII) in Ramsay Hunt syndrome. For ORAL herpes zoster affecting the palate unilaterally — the trigeminal nerve (V2 or V3) is involved. For the herpes zoster series in this source (questions 225-229), the nerve is VII (Ramsay Hunt). Context: unilateral oral lesion following CN VII dermatomal distribution.
  • C. While trigeminal herpes zoster affects the oral cavity, the source sequence for questions 226-229 identifies CN VII as the affected nerve — possibly referring to Ramsay Hunt syndrome with oral involvement.
  • D. CN XII is motor to the tongue — it is not typically affected by herpes zoster in a way that produces the described lesions.

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