What Is Bulbar Palsy

Bulbar palsy or the progressive bulbar palsy is a condition wherein the motor neurons or the nerve cells responsible for movement are affected.

What is bulbar palsy.

Bulbar palsy vs pseudobulbar palsy. Pseudobulbar palsy is an upper motor neuron palsy that affects the corticobulbar tracts of the v th vii th ix th x th xi th and xii th cranial nerves. 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 other areas of the body may also be affected by this disease. The brain stem is the part of the brain needed for swallowing speaking chewing and other functions.

Bulbar palsy is sometimes also classified as non progressive or progressive. Tongue weakness and. Typically patients with a bulbar palsy present with signs and symptoms of the cranial nerves affected as mentioned. Bulbar palsy is a lower motor neuron palsy that affects the nuclei of the ix th x th xi th and xii th cranial nerves.

A progressive degenerative disorder of the motor neurons of primarily the brainstem manifested as weakness and wasting of the various bulbar muscles resulting in dysarthria and dysphagia fluid regurgitation is an outstanding symptom and can cause aspiration. Individuals suffering from progressive bulbar palsy may experience difficulty chewing. There are 12 cranial nerves and about 5 of them are affected. Bulbar palsy refers to a range of different signs and symptoms linked to impairment of function of the cranial nerves ix x xi xii which occurs due to a lower motor neuron lesion in the medulla oblongata or from lesions of the lower cranial nerves outside the brainstem.

One of the subgroups of motor neuron disease. A bulbar palsy refers to disease affecting the glossopharyngeal vagus accessory and hypoglossal nerves and is due to lower motor neuron pathology. These cranial nerves involves motor movement and these are cranial nerve v vii ix x xi. Progressive bulbar palsy involves the brain stem.

Signs and symptoms of progressive bulbar palsy include difficulty swallowing weak jaw and facial muscles progressive loss of speech and weakening of the tongue. The former is a lower motor neuron lesion of the cranial nerves ix x xi and xii while the latter is an upper motor neuron lesion affecting ix x xi and xii cranial nerves. Out of the 12 cranial nerves that are present 5 cranial nerves which control movement get affected in bulbar palsy.