C. Ertekin et al., Trigeminocervical reflexes elicited by stimulation of the infraorbital nerve: Head retraction reflex, J CL NEURPH, 18(4), 2001, pp. 378-385
In the current study, the effects of stimulation of the infraorbital nerve
(ION) on the trigeminocervical reflexes (TCRs), recorded from the posterior
neck muscles, was investigated and the results were compared with the resu
lts recorded by stimulation of the supraorbital nerve (SON). TCRs obtained
by stimulation of the ION was evaluated as the electrophysiologic counterpa
rt of the head retraction reflex, Twenty normal control subjects, 10 men an
d 10 women, were enrolled in the study. The SON and the ION were stimulated
by using a bipolar surface electrode. Results were recorded by using eithe
r concentric needle electrodes inserted into the semispinalis capitis muscl
e at the level of the third or fourth cervical vertebra or by surface elect
rodes placed at the C3 and C7 vertebrae on the midline. It was found that s
timulation of the supraorbital and infraorbital branches of the trigeminal
nerve had different reflexive effects on the posterior neck muscles. A stab
le positive (or negative-positive) wave, with a very early latency and high
amplitude was always recorded after maximal stimulation of the ION, which
could never be detected by stimulation of the SON. The C3 response of the T
CR, evoked by SON stimulation was always evoked, by stimulation of the ION,
at a low threshold. These findings suggest that the head retraction reflex
is composed of two phases: inhibitory and excitatory. The early, fixed pos
itive wave represents the general inhibition of the cranial and neck muscle
s, just before withdrawal of the face and head, from unexpected stimuli, wh
ich precedes the dense C3 response, demonstrating activation of the posteri
or neck muscles.