12th May 2024

A 38-year-old woman presents with sudden onset of right-sided facial weakness.

A 38-year-old woman presents with sudden onset of right-sided facial weakness. She reports that she woke up this morning unable to close her right eye and with drooping of the right side of her mouth. There is no history of trauma or preceding viral illness. Physical examination reveals the inability to wrinkle the forehead, close the eye, smile, or puff out the cheeks on the right side of the face.

Which cranial nerve is most likely to be affected in this condition?