What Is Bulbar Palsy

A bulbar palsy refers to disease affecting the glossopharyngeal vagus accessory and hypoglossal nerves and is due to lower motor neuron pathology.

What is bulbar palsy. Signs and symptoms of progressive bulbar palsy include difficulty swallowing weak jaw and facial muscles progressive loss of speech and weakening of the tongue. 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. 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. There are 12 cranial nerves and about 5 of them are affected.

Out of the 12 cranial nerves that are present 5 cranial nerves which control movement get affected in 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. 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. Non progressive bulbar palsy is an uncommon condition of uncertain aetiology and there are few reports of it in the literature.

There are differences between bulbar palsy and pseudobulbar palsy. 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. 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.

Bulbar palsy vs pseudobulbar palsy. Bulbar palsy is sometimes also classified as non progressive or progressive. Tongue weakness and. Bulbar palsy also known as progressive bulbar palsy is a pathological condition in which the nerve cells which are responsible for movement get affected.

Typically patients with a bulbar palsy present with signs and symptoms of the cranial nerves affected as mentioned. One of the subgroups of motor neuron disease. Individuals suffering from progressive bulbar palsy may experience difficulty chewing.