Abstract: Abstract The trigeminal and facial nerves and their central connections may be involved in a number of neurological disorders. Electrophysiological study of the reflex activity mediated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves have been useful in particular for assessing cranial neuropathies (e.g., Bell palsy) or peripheral facial movement disorders, such as hemifacial spasm or facial synkinesis. In addition, these techniques can provide useful information in some cases of peripheral neuropathy, polyradiculoneuropathy, brainstem lesions, motor neuron disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal syndrome. The reflexes discussed in this chapter are the electrically evoked blink reflex, the jaw jerk (or masseter reflex), the masseter inhibitory reflex, and less commonly used electrophysiologic techniques for studying cranial nerves IX and X. Also, two additional techniques are also discussed: one to assess a sensory nerve in the head that is not a cranial nerve of branchial arch origin, the great auricular sensory nerve, and the other to interrogate trigeminal sensory pathways from the sensory receptor level to the parietal cortex, contact heat-evoked potentials.
Publication Year: 2021
Publication Date: 2021-06-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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