Described are symptoms of the supranuclear, nuclear, infranuclear involvement of n. facialis and their dif-ferent clinical picture. Topognosis, the determination of the level of the lesion, is of prognostic significan-ce in the affection of the nerve. An important contribution to the determination of prognosis in facial para-lysis is sound knowledge of the clinical picture and an EMG Ínvestigation with electrostimulation of the nerve. Conservative treatment with steroids and antiviral agents is the most effective. Surgical treatment with revision of the nerve in the fallopian canal is left for atypical cases. Dealt with are inflammatory para-lyses; Guillain-Barré, Ramsey-Hunt, BanworúYs, and Melkersson-Rosenthal syndromes; paralyses in the pregnant, in diabetics; congenital, traumatic, and tumorous paralyses.

        Key words: Bell's paralysis - topognosis of the facial nerve - Bannwortlťs syndrome - Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome - Guillant-Baré syndrome - various etiologies of facial nerve paralysis