A 34-year-old man presents with left facial droop and diminished sensation on the left side of the face. Both the upper and the lower face are affected. His ability to taste is also diminished on the...

A 34-year-old man presents with left facial droop and diminished sensation on the left side of the face. Both the upper and the lower face are affected. His ability to taste is also diminished on the left side of the tongue. Which structure is affected?

A. Trigeminal nerve on the right

B. Trigeminal nerve on the left

C. Pons on the left

D. Facial nerve on the left

E. Cerebral cortex on the left