What Is Bulbar Palsy

Clinical features of bulbar palsy range from difficulty swallowing and a lack of a gag reflex to inability to articulate words and excessive drooling.

What is bulbar palsy.

It primarily involves the brain stem a part of the brain responsible for speaking swallowing chewing and other basic functions. Bulbar palsy is a feature of multiple sclerosis amyotrophic lateral sclerosis motor neurone disease and poliomyelitis. Progressive bulbar palsy is a motor neuron disease mnd that damages the nerve cells in the brain stem that supply the bulbar muscles those that control talking swallowing and chewing. The cranial nerves affected in bulbar palsy are cranial nerve v vii ix x and.

Bulbar palsy is a set of conditions that can occur due to damage to the lower cranial nerves. There are 12 cranial nerves and about 5 of them are affected. Bulbar palsy is a degenerative disorder. A speech deficit occurs due to paralysis or weakness of the muscles of articulation which are supplied by these cranial nerves.

Bulbar palsy is the result of diseases affecting the lower cranial nerves vii xii. Out of the 12 cranial nerves that are present 5 cranial nerves which control movement get affected in bulbar palsy. Collins dictionary of medicine robert m. A neurological disorder causing progressive paralysis of the tongue throat and voice box larynx so that swallowing and speaking become difficult or impossible.

If any of these nerves are damaged lower motor neurons are affected and palsy results. Bulbar palsy or the progressive bulbar palsy is a condition wherein the motor neurons or the nerve cells responsible for movement are affected. These cranial nerves involves motor movement and these are cranial nerve v vii ix x xi. Individuals suffering from progressive bulbar palsy may experience difficulty chewing.

Bulbar palsy also known as progressive bulbar palsy is a pathological condition in which the nerve cells which are responsible for movement get affected. Bulbar palsy is most commonly caused by a brainstem stroke or tumor. The typical clinical manifestations of bulbar palsy are swallowing difficulty the jaw appears weak the tongue is weak facial muscles appear weak and there is a progressive loss of speech. Essential clinical anatomy of the nervous system 2015.

The cranial nerves affected by bulbar palsy control the muscles responsible for chewing swallowing speech and in some cases breathing and facial movement.