STUDIES ON CLINICAL ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (II) ELECTROMYOGRAM OF TONGUE MUSCLES

Autor: Naohiko Mashiko
Rok vydání: 1960
Předmět:
Zdroj: Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 14:28-41
ISSN: 1440-1819
1323-1316
DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.1960.tb02226.x
Popis: Summary For the purpose of exploring the function of the medulla oblongata through studying the function of the hypoglossal nerve, electromyograms from tongue muscles were obtained using concentric needle electrodes (monopolar or bipolar) of my own making and cathode-ray oscilloscope with synchronous loud-speaker. Furthermore, the function of the accessory nerve was estimated electromyographically from M. trapezius and M. sternocleidomastoideus; and, moreover, the function of the vagal nerve was assessed by observing pharmacodynamic responses. Focus of the attention was placed on the patients with neurocirculatory asthenia and allied diseases. M. longitudinalis superficialis was chiefly selected and, in some cases, other tongue muscles were examined. Results obtained were as follows: 1 Normal electromyograms of tongue muscles could be established and these could be clearly separated from various wave forms meaning various pathological lesions similar to those found in other skeletal muscles. The findings in 8 cases of control subject were: electrical silence at rest, single motor unit voltage during voluntary contraction and no “follower potential” after relaxation. 2 Of 41 cases with neurocirculatory asthenia and allied diseases, abnormal action pDtentials at rest were detected in 30 cases (73.2%), among whom 28 cases (93.3% showed fibrillation voltage. Other abnormal action potentials obtained during voluntary contraction were: synchronization voltage, complex NMU voltage, grouping voltage, and low amplitude NMU voltage. Furthermore, “follower potential” was detected in 11 cases. These abnormal wave forms appear to reflect diffuse bulbar lesions, and these lesions suggest the existence of subclinical adhesive arachnoiditis in the medulla oblongata. 3 In 14 cases with other organic diseases including bulbar palsy, fibrillation voltages were obtained in 10 cases, but “follower potential” was detected in only one case. 4 In 5 of 6 cases with peptic ulcer, fibrillation voltages were found at rest. Fibrillation voltages and “follower potentials” tended to be strengthened by the administration of pilocarpine and epinephrine, respectively. 5 Tongue muscle is the only one showing visible fibrillation, but there are evidences indicating that an accurate finding must depend on the electromyography, and, moreover, it is said that tongue muscles have small innervation ratios. As shown above, various lower motor neuron lesions of the hypoglossal and the accessory nerves were detected in patients with N. C. A. and allied diseases. It is suggested that there may be considerable functional disturbances in the medulla oblongata in the patients with N. C. A. and allied diseases. It may be said that electromyograms of the tongue muscles give an excellent clue for clinical evaluation of the function of the medulla oblongata.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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