The facial nerve emerges from the brainstem and has both motor and sensory functions. It innervates the muscles of facial expression and provides parasympathetic innervation to glands. Facial paralysis can result from lesions to the facial nerve. Bell's palsy is the most common cause of unilateral facial paralysis and usually resolves over time with treatment like corticosteroids. Grading systems like the House-Brackmann scale are used to assess facial nerve function.