Answer to How to Make a Drunken Sailor Drool

Erb’s point refers to an area midway between the mastoid and the manubrium. The cutaneous nerves of the neck emerge posterior to the sternocleidomastoid in this area, and also, the spinal accessory nerve in the posterior triangle of the neck is found at this spot. An injury to this area would result in loss of sensation to the neck and/or loss of the trapezius muscle, e.g., elevation of the shoulder. Drooling is consistent with the inability to close the mouth by muscles of facial expression, specifically the orbicularis oris. Innervation  of this muscle is by a branch of the facial nerve, the buccal branch. Of all the nerves labeled, only 2 is a branch of the facial nerve; hence, it is the only plausible, correct answer. Nerves 3, 4, and 5 are branches of the cervical plexus. Nerve 1, based on its location and association with the superficial temporal artery, is most likely the auriculotemporal nerve. Clearly the M1 confused Erb’s point with the location of the facial nerve. The sailor suffered a motor injury, not neck pain.

Answer to this question is based on material presented in lecture 2 of the Head and Neck Lecture Series.

1 = Auriculotemporal n.

2 = Buccal branch of CN VII

3 = Lesser occipital n.

4 = Greater auricular n.

5 = Transverse cervical n.