The involvement of the facial nucleus can lead to decreased taste sensation over the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, this part of the tongue is innervated by chorda tympani branch of the facial nerve.
The involvement of facial nucleus leads to complete ipsilateral facial paralysis, contrast this with cortical strokes where the paralysis only involves the contralateral lower face, this happens because upper motor neurons from the cortex supply contralateral lower face while the upper face has bilateral supply from the cortex. In the case of anterior inferior cerebellar artery infarction, the facial nucleus is affected and hence ipsilateral lower motor neurons are affected, this results in the paralysis of upper and lower parts of the face on the ipsilateral side.
The facial nerve supplies parasympathetic fibers to the submandibular gland and sublingual glands via chorda tympani, hence the involvement of the facial nucleus in anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke can cause decreased salivation.
Due to the involvement of facial and trigeminal nuclei, patients can develop decreased lacrimation (production of tears).
The involvement of the trigeminal nucleus causes loss of pain and temperature sensation on the ipsilateral face, while the involvement of the spinothalamic tract causes loss of pain and temperature sensation on the contralateral body.
Nausea and vomiting are possible manifestations of anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke due to the involvement of vestibular nuclei.
Ataxia can be a manifestation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke due to the involvement of the cerebellum and communicating fibers.
Hearing loss can be a manifestation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke due to the involvement of the labyrinthine artery.
Horner syndrome can be a manifestation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery stroke due to the involvement of descending sympathetic fibers. This syndrome is characterized by ipsilateral miosis, anhidrosis, and ptosis due to the sympathetic denervation.
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