Tongue Movements – Brainstem Mechanisms and Clinical Postulates

Lowe, Alan A.

doi:10.1159/000118858

Cited by 45 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…There is evidence for the presence of muscle spindles in the tongue musculature of primates (59,297). Increased afferent hypoglossal nerve activity has been recorded in response to tongue stretch in the anterior-posterior direction (59,297), suggesting that the GG muscle stretching effects of subatmospheric airway pressure (71,70) may mediate a component of the reflex responses.…”

Section: Afferent Pathways and Central Neural Circuitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increased afferent hypoglossal nerve activity has been recorded in response to tongue stretch in the anterior-posterior direction (59,297), suggesting that the GG muscle stretching effects of subatmospheric airway pressure (71,70) may mediate a component of the reflex responses. The potential role of tongue stretch in mediating GG responses to subatmospheric airway pressure in humans is unknown but indirect evidence suggests that the contribution of this mechanism may be minimal.…”

Section: Afferent Pathways and Central Neural Circuitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The activity from upper airway mechanoreceptors is transmitted to the brainstem through the vagus (superior laryngeal branch carrying laryngeal primary sensory afferents), glossopharyngeal, and trigeminal nerves (232,267,297) (Fig. 6).…”

Section: Central Neural Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The principal site of central termination of upper airway afferents is the nucleus of the solitary tract, with additional projections to the trigeminal sensory nucleus (266,267). Superior laryngeal nerve and glossopharyngeal inputs are thought to reach the hypoglossal motor nucleus via the nucleus of the solitary tract, whereas trigeminal inputs reach the hypoglossal motor nucleus via the sensory trigeminal nucleus (296,297). The neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of sleep-state-dependent neural systems is not a particular focus of this article, and is covered by a separate chapter by Leszek Kubin in this series in Comprehensive Physiology, as well as by other reviews (209,210,211,267,268).…”

Section: Central Neural Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neural Control of the Upper Airway: Integrative Physiological Mechanisms and Relevance for Sleep Disordered Breathing

Horner

2012

Comprehensive Physiology

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The various neural mechanisms affecting the control of the upper airway muscles are discussed in this review, with particular emphasis on structure-function relationships and integrative physiological motor-control processes. Particular foci of attention include the respiratory function of the upper airway muscles, and the various reflex mechanisms underlying their control, specifically the reflex responses to changes in airway pressure, reflexes from pulmonary receptors, chemoreceptor and baroreceptor reflexes, and postural effects on upper airway motor control. This article also addresses the determinants of upper airway collapsibility and the influence of neural drive to the upper airway muscles, and the influence of common drugs such as ethanol, sedative hypnotics, and opioids on upper airway motor control. In addition to an examination of these basic physiological mechanisms, consideration is given throughout this review as to how these mechanisms relate to integrative function in the intact normal upper airway in wakefulness and sleep, and how they may be involved in the pathogenesis of clinical problems such obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea.

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Section: Afferent Pathways and Central Neural Circuitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Afferent Pathways and Central Neural Circuitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Central Neural Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Central Neural Pathwaysmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neural Control of the Upper Airway: Integrative Physiological Mechanisms and Relevance for Sleep Disordered Breathing

Horner

2012

Comprehensive Physiology

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“…Research studies in both laboratory animals and humans indicate that opening the mandible increases activity in the genioglossus muscle (Lowe and Sessle, 1973;Lowe, 1984;Ishiwata et al, 1997Ishiwata et al, , 2000. Sensory receptors from the TMJ that have fibers passing through the mandibular nerve may modulate tongue reflexes (Lowe and Sessle, 1973).…”

Section: (E) Jaw-hypoglossal Reflexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oral and Pharyngeal Reflexes in the Mammalian Nervous System: Their Diverse Range in Complexity and the Pivotal Role of the Tongue

Miller

2002

Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine

162

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ABSTRACT:The oral cavity and pharynx are anatomically separate but functionally integrated regions of the head. The two regions are involved in complex motor responses that include feeding, chewing, swallowing, speech, and respiration. The multiple sensory receptors that innervate these two regions provide the first link in reflexes that control muscles of the entire head, upper gastrointestinal tract, and airway. Most of the reflexes affect the diversity of muscles that compose the tongue, which is vital to all stages of feeding and which continually affects the patency of the airway. Oral-pharyngeal reflexes are evident in the mammalian fetus and continually emerge as the animal or human matures. Some of the first reflexes in the oral region are geared toward nourishment. As the central nervous system matures and the oral and pharyngeal regions develop morphologically, new reflexes develop. Many of these reflexes are protective both of the tissue in the oral cavity, such as the tongue, and of the upper airway in preventing aspiration. While simple reflexes can be evoked in isolation, most reflexes combine with more complex oral and pharyngeal responses such as chewing and vocalization. Oral-pharyngeal reflexes demonstrate a range in complexity. Some sensory stimuli will evoke a series of responses, as is often evident in the infant, and other stimuli will evoke a complex multiple-level recruitment of muscles in a sequence, as in pharyngeal swallowing. Certain sensory inputs evoke an entire motor behavior pattern, such as taste avoidance or facial expression. The oral-pharyngeal reflexes are critical to maintaining life and ultimately serve functions that the oral and pharyngeal regions have in common, such as communication, feeding, and breathing.

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