1985NeurologyRequires access

Stretch reflex blepharospasm

J. A. Obeso, Julio Artieda, C. D. Marsden

Open publisher page 14 citations

Abstract

We studied a patient with blepharospasm provoked by stretching the orbicularis oculi muscles. With the eyes closed, EMG of the orbicularis oculi at rest revealed spontaneous rhythmic muscle activity that was not visible. When she tried to open her eyes, repetitive jerking blepharoclonus and tonic blepharospasm rendered her functionally blind. Passive stretching of the orbicularis oculi evoked a burst of EMG activity with two components. Touch or pinprick did not elicit such reflex activity. Anesthesia of the supraorbital nerves abolished muscle responses to stretch and improved the blepharospasm.

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What this paper is about

We studied a patient with blepharospasm provoked by stretching the orbicularis oculi muscles. With the eyes closed, EMG of the orbicularis oculi at rest revealed spontaneous rhythmic muscle activity that was not visible. When she tried to open her eyes, repetitive jerking blepharoclonus and tonic blepharospasm rendered her functionally blind. Passive stretching of the orbicularis oculi evoked a burst of EMG activity with two components. Touch or pinprick did not elicit such reflex activity. Anesthesia of the supraorbital nerves abolished muscle responses to stretch and improved the blepharospasm.

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OpenAlex reports 14 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

We studied a patient with blepharospasm provoked by stretching the orbicularis oculi muscles. With the eyes closed, EMG of the orbicularis oculi at rest revealed spontaneous rhythmic muscle activity that was not visible. When she tried to open her eyes, repetitive jerking blepharoclonus and tonic blepharospasm rendered her functionally blind. Passive stretching of the orbicularis oculi evoked a burst of EMG activity with two components. Touch or pinprick did not elicit such reflex activity. Anesthesia of the supraorbital nerves abolished muscle responses to stretch and improved the blepharospasm.

Key concepts: Orbicularis oculi muscle, Blepharospasm, Tonic (physiology), Corneal reflex, Reflex, Supraorbital nerve, Eyelid, Medicine

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