Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pseudobulbar paralysis
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Pseudobulbar palsy is bilateral impairment of the function of the lower cranial nerves 9, 10, 11 and 12 due to upper motor neurone lesion of the bulbar muscles from lesions of the corticobulbar pathways in the pyramidal tract.
Causes
Causes
- Vascular causes: Bilateral hemisphere infarction
- Degenerative disorders: motor neuron disease
- Inflammatory disorders: Multiple sclerosis
- Malignancy: High brain stem tumors
Signs
Signs
These include:
- Speech is slow, thick and indistinct
- Gag reflex is normal or exaggerated
- Tongue is small, stiff and spastic
- Jaw jerk is brisk
- There may be upper motor neurone lesion of the limbs.
Bulbar palsy is a similar disorder but is caused by lower motor neurone lesions
External links
External links
- Template:GPnotebook – “pseudobulbar palsy”
- Template:GPnotebook – “comparison of bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy”
- eNotes
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]