Flaccid Dysarthria Flashcards
A Lesion in ______ can cause flaccid dysarthria
LMN system
UMN involves all of pathway above or below the level of the synapse?
above
LMN involves the pathway above or below the synapse to the muscle fiber?
below
In the UMN system, do fibers leave the brain stem?
No, fibers never leave the brain stem
*except for the cortico-spinal tract
T or F
Deficits are the similar when they occur in the LMN or UMN systems
False.
Deficits are very different if they occur in the LMN or UMN system
What results in because it all comes together in the LMN system.severe damage in the UMN system?
need 2 lesions that take out both bilateral tracts to have severe damage
Is there severe damage if there is 1 lesion in the UMN system?
No.
If just one lesion, something can get through to the LMN system
With the LMN system, it takes ____ lesion(s) to wipe out the function?
1
* because it all comes together in the LMN system
Where do lesions that result in flaccidity occur?
Anywhere along the motor unit
Do symptoms vary according to where the lesion/damage is?
Yes.
Symptoms vary according to where damage occurs
Primary unique deficit in flaccidity is..
Weakness to muscles.
Can happen to any muscle.
Weakness refers to…
…reduced strength/force of muscle contraction
Most things can be explained on basis of weakness
If the palate too weak to close, the patient will have…
hypernasality
UMN system damage results in what kind of dysarthria?
Spastic dysarthria.
Primary unique deficit is spasticity.
Can also have some weakness but weakness is not defining character.
What is the primary unique deficit of spastic dysarthria?
Spasticity
What is the only dysarthria with PNS involvement?
Flaccid dysarthria
2 other names for PNS
LMN and FCP – refer to same as PNS
When motor units are damaged…
…muscle looses its ability to contract
If all of the LMN input (nerve impulse) is lost to a muscle what occurs?
paralysis
It there is only partial loss of LMN input what occurs?
paresis
What is paresis?
There’s still some input to muscle, but contraction is weakened, therefore weaker muscle movement
Other defining characteristics of Flaccid Dysarthria (4):
- Hypotonia & weak reflexes
- Atrophy
- Fasiculations & fibrillations. Fasiculations don’t occur immediately after insult – takes a while to see them (1-3 weeks after nerve supply is gone). They’re quick, jerky movements in resting muscles. Difference between fasiculations & fibrillations - fasiculations are visible, fibrillations aren’t.
- Progressive muscle weakness – in all flaccid dyarthria fatigue is a factor. But in some disorders, there is a quick weakening with use. The muscle fatigues quickly when used. This occurs in neuromuscular junction dz, such as Myasthenia Gravis.
Where the damage occurs on the motor unit determines…
the type of characteristics
ATROPY & FASICULATIONS ARE ONLY SEEN IN LMN or UMN INVOLVEMENT?
LMN INVOLVEMENT
Hypotonia & weak reflexes:
Weak muscles leads to hypotonia (reduced muscle tone).
This affects speed, range/accuracy of muscle movements.
Reflexes may be diminished or completely gone.
With flaccidity in muscles, muscle doesn’t contract so you get flabby muscle
Atrophy:
Muscle starts to waste away, loses mass/bulk when nerve fibers are damaged
Fasiculations & Fibrillations:
Quick, jerky movements in resting muscles
Do fasiculations occur immediately after insult?
No.
It takes a while to see them (1-3 weeks after nerve supply is gone)
What is the difference between fasiculations & fibrillations?
Fasiculations are visible, Fibrillations aren’t
What are some etiologies of Flaccid Dysarthria (8):
- Neuromuscular Junction Dz ( e.g. Myasthenia Gravis)
- Vascular disorders (e.g. Wallenberg’s lateral medullary syndrome)
- Infectious processes (e.g. polio)
- Demyelinating Dz - such as Guillian Barre dz –
- Muscle diseases – such as Muscular Dystrophy
- Degenerative dz – such as motor neuron dz (e.g. ALS)
- Anatomic anomalies such as Arnold Chiari malformation
- Radiation treatment
Neuromuscular Junction Dz (e.g. Myasthenia Gravis):
Chronic dz characterized by rapid weakness of voluntary movement of muscles & improvement with rest
AcH receptors are destroyed in MG so receptors aren’t receptive to AcH, which triggers muscle contraction
When you let the muscle rest, it functions more normally.
Myasthenia Gravis occurs in men _____ and in women _____.
Men: after age 50
Women: between 20-40 years of age
Main characteristics of Myasthenia Gravis (3):
- drooping eyelids
- weak facial muscles
- flaccid dysarthria
What is the “Tensilon” test given for Myasthenia Gravis?
Injections of tensilon give after pt shows signs of fatigue when talking
Pt should show rapid improvement.
To have pt do stress test for this – count to 100, etc.
Vascular disorders:
Brain stem stroke that affects cranial nerve nuclei can cause flaccid dysarthria
Other vascular syndromes, such as Wallenberg’s lateral medullary syndrome, may result in flaccid dysarthria
Infectious processes-polio:
polio is viral dz in which LMN cell bodies may be affected
Demyelinating Dz - such as Guillian Barre dz:
unknown cause, loss of myelin occurs in some nerves.
Facial & oropharyngeal muscles are affected 1st, often results in flaccid dysarthria & dysphagia
Muscle diseases – such as Muscular Dystrophy:
Genetic, inherited, and degenerative.
Muscle fibers degenerate.
Flaccid dysarthria is frequent symptom.
Degenerative dz- motor neuron dz
groups of disorders – motor neurons degenerate
Degenerative dz- ALS:
most common type of motor neuron dz
Affects both UMN and LMN system
Results in mixed dysarthria with flaccid component
Anatomic anomalies – Arnold Chiari malformation:
Congenital (occurs at birth)
Results in distortion of brain stem which may result in impairment of cranial nerves.
Often don’t see symptoms till adulthood.
Flaccid dysarthria is one symptom.