An ectopic muscle was found in the hypotympanum of a 31-year-old Japanese male. The muscle produced symptoms quite similar to those seen in cases of glomus jugulare tumor: a red mass visible through the ear drum, conductive deafness, a compressed jugular bulb demonstrable by retrograde jugulography, and VIIth and IXth nerve paresis. However, the audible pulsating tinnitus of glomus jugulare tumor was absent. The mass proved to be a muscle speculated as being a part of the levator veli palatini muscle. In view of our findings, ectopic muscle should be included in the differential diagnosis of glomus jugulare tumor.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Optic organ and cervical proprioceptors in maintenance of body equilibrium.

Two experiments were made on the functional correlation between the optic organ and the cervical proprioceptors in maintenance of body equilibrium. Experiment I: The effects of weak and strong electric stimulation of the deep nuchal muscles on changes in optokinetic nystagmus and optokinetic after-nystagmus were examined in adult non-albino rabbits with binocular vision. Experiment II: Experiment I was repeated on rabbits with monocular vision giving optokinetic stimulation moving from the side of the blindfolded eye to that of the open eye and applying only weak electric stimulation to the neck muscles. The results obtained were as follows: (1) Experiment I: Weak electric stimulation of the deep nuchal muscles of rabbits with binocular vision tended to promote optokinetic nystagmus with either no significant change or decrease in optokinetic after-nystagmus. Strong electric stimulation had the opposite effects, i.e., it tended to inhibit optokinetic nystagmus and activate optokinetic after-nystagmus. It also produced abnormal optokinetic nystagmus, such as the inversion phenomenon of optokinetic nystagmus and "optokinetic nystagmus firing". (2) Experiment II: Weak electric stimulation of the deep nuchal muscles of rabbits with monocular vision had similar effects to those in experiment I, but promotion of optokinetic nystagmus was less obvious, while activation of optokinetic after-nystagmus was more marked. In addition, the inversion phenomenon of optokinetic nystagmus developed even on weak electric stimulation. From these results the following conclusions were drawn: (1) The cervical proprioceptors can function in two mechanisms causing promotion and break down of equilibrium of the optokinetic system. (2) The cervical proprioceptors, as an organ of equilibrium, can exert two different actions on the optokinetic eye reflexes, i.e., they can promote optokinetic nystagmus and inhibit optokinetic after-nystagmus.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Neurotological studies on the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the formation of traumatic vertigo of cervical origin.

To test the validity of the hypothesis that irritation of the cervical sympathetic nerves is a cause of hypertonicity of the cervical soft supporting tissues, especially the deep nuchal muscles, and that this hypertonicity is a cause of traumatic vertigo of cervical origin, we examined 44 vertigo cases with whiplash injury by testing equilibrium function and EMG discharges from the neck before and after administration of drugs affecting the sympathetic receptors. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Administration of iso-proterenol (beta-receptor stimulant) caused a significant increase in the EMG's from the injured neck muscles, in parallel with increased impairment of the righting reflex. The blindfolded vertical writing test showed the appearance or intensification of ataxia or deviation in writing when this drug was given. In contrast, administration of propranolol (beta-receptor depressor) had the opposite effects on the EMG's, the righting reflex and blindfolded vertical writing. Furthermore, the resulting changes in the EMG's and equilibrium functions were parallel with alterations in subjects' complaints, i.e., increase or decrease in neck pain and vertigo. 2. Administration of drugs affecting the alpha receptors, such as noradrenaline (alpha-receptor stimulant) and phentolamine (alpha-receptor depressor) had no appreciable effect on the EMG's, equilibrium function or the subjects' complaints. These results show that in vertigo due to whiplash injury hypertonicity of the cervical erector muscles can be induced sympathetically, and that this hypertonicity is based on over-excitement of beta receptors in the injured neck muscles, which results in vertigo of cervical origin.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1975

Lumbomuscular proprioceptive reflexes in body equilibrium.

To evaluate the role of reflexes related to the lumbar proprioceptors in maintenance of body equilibrium, changes in equilibrium function of the eyes and body were observed after unilateral procainization of the lumbar erector muscles. Observations were made on normal subjects and vertigo cases with lumbar pain after whiplash injury using various equilibrium tests. The results obtained were as follows: (1) On unilateral procainization of the lumbar erector muscles of normal subjects, eye nystagmus and disturbances of the righting reflex developed. Simultaneously, changes in drift reactions of the lower limbs were detected by the stepping test. Namely, in many of the subjects examined the direction of stepping deviation became quite different from that before procainization, and stepping after procainization tended to show slight or moderate ataxic features, associated with a sensation of unsteadiness. (2) When procaine was injected unilaterally into tender spots in the lumbar erector muscles of traumatic vertigo cases, spontaneous eye nystagmus and disturbances of the righting reflex decreased. Simultaneously, significant changes in the drift reactions of the lower limbs were observed in many of the cases examined. Namely, the direction of deviation became the opposite of that before procainization and ataxia in walking almost disappeared with reduction in vertigo. The following conclusions were drawn from these findings: (1) The effects of procaine on equilibrium of normal subjects are in sharp contrast to its effects on equilibrium of traumatic vertigo cases. Findings in the former might be due to increased imbalance between the activities of the right and left lumbar proprioceptors, while those in the latter might be due to decreased imbalance between the two. (2) These findings support the view that from the standpoint of body equilibrium, there are two phases of the proprioceptive reflex, and that Fukuda's concept of "two phases of the labyrinthine reflex, i.e., a stage of disturbance and a stage of coordination", can be applied to interpretation of the proprioceptive reflex of lumbar origin.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

[2 reflex stages in equilibrium provoked by the proprioceptors of the ocular muscles. Analysis using Fukuda's step test and the orthostatic reflex test].

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Adult↗