Case #5

You wake up one morning feeling a little pain and tenderness on your face just anterior to the external acoustic meatus. While eating breakfast, that area of your face begins to swell causing your roomate to comment sensitively -- "My God, what's happening to you! You look terrible". You feel a strange hard lump under the skin in front of the swelling and, with your roommate looking terrified, you contemplate calling 911.

1. What is the likely cause of the swelling and should you call 911?
2. The hard lump is probably located over what muscle?
3. How does the nervous system contribute to the development of this syndrome? Be specific.