TMJ Flashcards
How reliable are subjective scales of sleepiness?
Not very. For example, average Epworth score for patient without somnolence is 7.9 + or - 4.
What is the likely issue if snoring does not improve or worsens with OAT?
Nasal passage obstruction.
What is the gender-specific relationship between vertical opening and size of airway?
Males tend to need vertical opening more than females.
How effective is muscle palpation in assessing muscular issues?
It is objectively supported by EMG instrumentation and is a good objective way to establish a baseline, gather data for diagnosis, and to measure progress.
What is a trigger point?
Focus of hyper-irritability in a tissue that when compressed is locally tender and can give rise to referred pain and tenderness. It is only a few muscle fibers rather than an entire muscle.
What is the difference between an active and a latent trigger point?
Active: causes pain
Latent: clinically silent with respect to pain, but may cause restriction of movement and weakness of the affected muscle.
Both cause dysfunction, only active causes pain.
What is the difference between autonomic and somatic pain?
Autonomic: pain felt in places besides the source of the pain
Somatic: pain felt only at the source of pain
Trigger points activate autonomic pain and somatic pain
What are the perpetuating factors of trigger points?
Hypothyroid, nutrition (deficiency of B vitamins, vit C), hormones, skeletal alignment, airway (paradoxical breathing), ergonomics, sleep, degenerative diseases (diabetes, etc.)
Which muscle is mot often beset by myofascial trigger points?
The trapezius. It is a frequently overlooked source of temporal headaches. There are 6 TPs with distinctive pain patterns found in the upper, middle, and lower portion; 2 TPs in each region.
Where is pain referred to from the upper portion of the trapezius?
Unilaterally upward along the posterolateral aspect of the neck to the mastoid process – tension neckache
When the referred pain is intense, it extends to the side of the head, centering in the temple and back of the orbit, or sometimes in the angle of the jaw (“toothache” in lower 2nd molar)
What are the insertion points of the trapezius?
It extends from the occiput to the lateral end of the clavicle to T12.
What are the two insertion points of the sternocleidomastoid?
Origin is the mastoid process. The insertions are on the sternum and the about a third of the way into the clavicle from the sternum (two separate insertions)
What are the TPs in the sternal head of the SCM?
The entire length of the muscle, from mastoid to sternum. Pain is referred to back of head and lateral to the eye up into the eyebrow area.
What are the TPs in the clavicular head of the SCM?
Palpate the length of the muscle. Pain is referred to the ear and frontal right above the eyes.
What are the main muscles of respiration?
Intercostals and diaphragm
Why is disordered breathing a potential source of trigger points in the SCM?
If there is restriction of the airway, head position may change to open the airway – SCM is involved in those movements and trigger points may develop.
Which three muscles are the mandibular elevators?
Masseter, medial pterygoid, temporalis
What are the trigger points in the masseter?
Upper molars and 2nd bicuspid Lower molars and bicuspids Right above the eye (eyebrow) Angle of the jaw TMJ area or ear
What is the common source of trigger points in the masseter?
Nighttime parafunction
What is the attachment and insertion of the temporalis?
Temporal fossa to coronoid process of the mandible.
What are the trigger points in the anterior temporalis?
Maxillary incisors, eyebrow
Trigger points of middle temporalis?
Maxillary canine, maxillary bicuspids and maxillary molars
What is a common source of trigger points in the temporalis?
Clenching/bruxing
What is the relationship between clenching, trigger points caused by clenching, and airway?
SDB can cause clenching, which can incite trigger points in the three main elevator muscles (masseter, temporalis, and medial pterygoid).
What is the insertion of the external or lateral pterygoid?
Origin is lateral surface of lateral pterygoid plate. Insertion is the disc and the neck of the condyle.
What is the function of the superior lateral pterygoid?
Power stroke of the mandible. On working side of mandible, the superior lateral pterygoid shortens to keep the disc and condyle together.
What is the function of the inferior lateral pterygoid?
Protrusion of the mandible.
What is the origin and insertion of the medial (internal) pterygoid?
Origin is the medial surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. Insertion is the medial surface of the ramus and the angle of the mandible.
What is the main function of the medial pterygoid muscle?
Elevation of the mandible
What are the trigger points of the lateral pterygoid muscle?
Right over the TMJ and right above the zygomatic process
Anterior digastric origin and insertion?
From the digastric fossa (internal, inferior surface of chin) to the hyoid bone.
Insertion and origin of the posterior digastric?
Hyoid to the mastoid notch of the temporal bone.
Function of the digastric muscles?
Mandibular depressors (opening) and to raise the hyoid bone.
Trigger points of the posterior digastric?
Region of the styloid process to the inferior portion of the ear