• Anatomy and Cell Biology
• /
• v.56 no.3
• /
• pp.299-303
• /
• 2023

The laryngopharyngeal nerve has received much less attention that the other contributions to the pharyngeal plexus i.e., glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Often, in descriptions and depictions, the nerve is simply labeled as the sympathetic contribution to the pharyngeal plexus. As there is such scant information available regarding this nerve, the present review was performed. Very little is found in the extant medical literature regarding the laryngopharyngeal nerve. However, based on available data, the nerve is a consistent contributory to the pharyngeal plexus and serves other adjacent areas e.g., carotid body. Therefore, a better understanding of this structure's anatomy is important for those who operate in this area. Further studies are necessary to better elucidate the true function of the laryngopharyngeal nerve.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.156-163
• /
• 2000

Background: Peripheral nerve injury sometimes leads to chronic neuropathic pain such as causalgia. A subset of patients with causalgia have a sympathetically maintained pain which is often evoked by cooling stimuli. However, our knowledge on adrenergic receptor types responsible for cold-evoked pain that is sympathetically dependent is lacking. The present study was conducted to investigate subtypes of adrenoceptors involved in mediating cold-evoked pain that developed following peripheral nerve injury. Methods: Neuropathic surgery was performed by a unilateral ligation of L5 and L6 spinal nerves of rats. Behavioral sign of cold-evoked pain was examined for 5 min by measuring cumulative duration of time that the rat lifted its foot off a metal plate held at cold temperature ($5^{\circ}C$). Whether cold-evoked pain behavior was affected by antagonists of various subtypes of adrenoceptors, which were administered intraperitoneally before and after the ligation, was investigated. Results: After ligation, duration of foot lifting on the ligated side at cold temperature increased as compared to the pre-operative period. This increase maintained for the entire 40-day test period. Pretreatment with alpha-antagonist phentolamine produced a suppression of cold-evoked pain behavior that was not affected by beta-antagonist propranolol pretreatment. Prazosin, alpha-1 antagonist, suppressed cold- evoked pain behavior when treated either before or after nerve ligation. On the other hand, alpha-2 antagonist yohimbine was without effect on cold-evoked pain behavior whether it was treated before or after the ligation. Conclusions: The results suggest that peripheral nerve injury develops cold-evoked pain that is sympathetically dependent, and that alpha-1 adrenoreceptor plays a critical role for the generation of this type of pain in its initiation as well as maintenance.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.148-154
• /
• 2012

Peripheral nerve injuries in the oral and maxillofacial regions require nerve repairs for the recovery of sensory and/or motor functions. Primary indications for the peripheral nerve grafts are injuries or continuity defects due to trauma, pathologic conditions, ablation surgery, or other diseases, that cannot regain normal functions without surgical interventions, including microneurosurgery. For the autogenous nerve graft, sural nerve and greater auricular nerve are the most common donor nerves in the oral and maxillofacial regions. The sural nerve has been widely used for this purpose, due to the ease of harvest, available nerve graft up to 30 to 40 cm in length, high fascicular density, a width of 1.5 to 3.0 mm, which is similar to that of the trigeminal nerve, and minimal branching and donor sity morbidity. Many different surgical techniques have been designed for the sural nerve harvesting, such as a single longitudinal incision, multiple stair-step incisions, use of nerve extractor or tendon stripper, and endoscopic approach. For a better understanding of the sural nerve graft and in avoiding of uneventful complications during these procedures as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the related surgical anatomies with their harvesting tips are summarized in this review article.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 1981

Experiments were conducted in ischemic decerebrate cats to study the effects of electroacupuncture and electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve on pain reaction. Flexion reflex was used as an index of pain. The reflex was elicited by stimulating the sural nerve(20 V, 0.5 msec duration) and recorded as a compound action potential from the nerve innervated to the semitendinosus muscle. Electroacupuncture was performed, using a 23-gauge hyperdermic needle, on the tsusanli point in the lateral upper tibia of the ipsilateral hindlimb. The common peroneal nerve was selected as a peripheral nerve which may be associated with electroacupuncture action, as it runs through the tissue portion under the tsusanli point. Both for electroacupuncture and the stimulation of common peroneal nerve a stimulus of 20 V-intensity, 2 msec-duration and 2 Hz-frequency was applied for 60 min. The results are summerized as follows: 1) The electroacupuncture markedly depressed the flexion reflex; this effect was eliminated by systemic application of naloxone $(0.02{\sim}0.12\;mg/kg)$, a specific narcotic antagonist. 2) Similarly, the electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve significantly depressed the flexion reflex, the effect being reversed by naloxone. 3) When most of the afferent nerves excluding sural nerve in the ipsilateral hindlimb were cut, the effect of electroacupuncture on the flexion reflex was not observed. Whereas direct stimulation of the common peroneal nerve at the proximal end from the cut resulted in a significant reduction of the flexion reflex, again the effect was reversible by naloxone application. 4) Transection of the spinal cord at the thoracic 12 did not eliminate the effect of peripheral nerve stimulation on the flexion reflex and its reversal by naloxone, although the effect was significantly less than that in the animal with spinal cord intact. These results suggest that: 1) the analgesic effect of an electroacupuncture is directly mediated by the nervous system and involves morphine-like substances in CNS, 2) the site of analgesic action of electroacupuncture resides mainly in the brainstem and in part in the spinal cord.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.85-99
• /
• 2009

Objectives : This study aimed to understand the influence of acupuncture on the human body by comparing changes within human bodies before and after people in normal health are treated with acupuncture at the acupoints HT7 and PC9, which are related to mental functions. Methods : The study was performed from January 3, 2008 to March 5, 2008 on 60 healthy males and females in their 20s. HRV, EEG, skin conductance response, respiration and peripheral skin temperature were measured for 5 minutes before acupuncture simulation was applied to the acupoints HT7 and PC9. During 20 minutes of acupuncture treatment, the same items were continuously measured to determine whether there had been any changes, and they were then measured for 5 minutes after the removal of the acupuncture needles in order to implement a comparative analysis. Results : 1. The HRV measurement showed that in the course of before, during and after acupuncture stimulation, heart rate, HF and HF norm decreased significantly (P<0.05) at HT7. LF, LF norm, and LF/HF ratio increased significantly (P>0.05), while heart rate, HF and HF norm decreased significantly (P<0.05) at PC9. 2. Skin conductance response increased significantly (P<0.05) at PC9 during and after the acupuncture simulation periods, compared with the pre acupuncture period. 3. the peripheral skin temperature increased significantly (P<0.05) both at HT7 and PC9 in the course of before, during and after acupuncture stimulation. 4. Compared with the pre-acupuncture period, respiration rate increased both at HT7 and at PC9 during and after the acupuncture simulation periods, but not in a statistically significance. 5. In the EEG measurement, when compared with the pre-acupuncture period at HT7, mid ${\beta}$ wave decreased significantly (P<0.05) during acupuncture treatment. Compared with the measurements during acupuncture treatment at PC9, low ${\beta}$ wave increased significantly (P<0.05) after the acupuncture needles were removed. Conclusions : When acupuncture treatment is applied at the acupoints HT7 and PC9, the activation of parasympathetic nerves decreases and the activation of sympathetic nerves increases in the HRV measurement. It was determined that PC9 makes the sympathetic nerves become highly activated in a skin conduction response. The effect of stability in the brain wave seemed to bo shown at HT7 than PC9.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.22-35
• /
• 1992

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of herbal organic extracts on the pain response provoked by noxious stimuli on dental nerve and the peripheral nerve conduction. Cats (2-2.5Kg regardless of sex) that were chosen as experimental animals were classified into control group, Asiasari radix application group and Zingiberis rhizoma application group. They were anesthetized with ${\alpha}$-chloralose, then anterior belly of digastric muscle of both sides were exposed and wire electrodes were inserted for recording of Electromyogram (EMG). Cavities were prepared on canines until pulp of the teeth were exposed. And after the drugs solubilized for 2% and 4% concentration (W/V) in vehicle were applied, their effects were compared through the recording of EMG immediately after drug application, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes and 5 days after, respectively. And after both inferior alveolar nerves were exposed, 4% organic extracts of Zingiberis rhizoma and Asiasari radix were applied for 30 minutes then the change of jaw opening reflex provoked by noxious stimuli on pulpal nerves were observed immediately after washing out, at 30, 60 and 90 minutes after drug had been washed out. After saphenous nerve of both sides were exposed, one side of nerve was used for vehicle application and the other side was used for drug application for 30 minutes. Then conduction of action potential of A-${\delta}$ and C-fiders of saphenous nerves, which have changed with time, was recorded. With analysis of these records, the following results were obtained: 1. Organic extract of Zingiberis rhizoma (2% or 4% concentration) greatly suppressed EMG of digastric muscle provoked by noxious stimuli on pulpal nerve at five days after application, the suppressive: effect was greater than that of organic extract of Asiasari radix. 2. Organic extract of Asiasari radix (2% or 4% concentration) suppressed jaw opening reflex provoked by noxious stimuli on pulpal nerve, at 5 days after drug application. 3. Organic extract of Zingiberis rhizoma and Asiasari radix (immediately after 30 minutes application) suppressed neural conduction of A-${\delta}$ and C-fibers, the suppressive effect was greater on A-${\delta}$ fibers than on C-fibers. 4. Jaw opening reflex provoked by noxious stimuli on pulpal nerve in inferior alveolar nerve was greatly suppressed 30 minutes after drug application, this effect was greater by Zingiberis rhizoma than by Asiasari radix.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.244-247
• /
• 2014

Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the microanatomy and histological features of the central myelin in the root exit zone of facial nerve. Methods : Forty facial nerves with brain stem were obtained from 20 formalin fixed cadavers. Among them 17 facial nerves were ruined during preparation and 23 root entry zone (REZ) of facial nerves could be examined. The length of medial REZ, from detach point of facial nerve at the brain stem to transitional area, and the thickness of glial membrane of central myelin was measured. We cut brain stem along the facial nerve and made a tissue block of facial nerve REZ. Each tissue block was embedded with paraffin and serially sectioned. Slices were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), periodic acid-Schiff, and glial fibrillary acid protein. Microscopy was used to measure the extent of central myelin and thickness of outer glial membrane of central myelin. Thickness of glial membrane was examined at two different points, the thickest area of proximal and distal REZ. Results : Special stain with PAS and GFAP could be differentiated the central and peripheral myelin of facial nerve. The length of medial REZ was mean 2.6 mm (1.6-3.5 mm). The glial limiting membrane of brain stem is continued to the end of central myelin. We called it glial sheath of REZ. The thickness of glial sheath was mean $66.5{\mu}m(40-110{\mu}m$) at proximal REZ and $7.4{\mu}m(5-10{\mu}m$) at distal REZ. Conclusion : Medial REZ of facial nerve is mean 2.6 mm in length and covered by glial sheath continued from glial limiting membrane of brain stem. Glial sheath of central myelin tends to become thin toward transitional zone.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2003

The bridging of nerve gaps is still one of the major problems in peripheral nerve surgery. To evaluate the role of silicon tube in nerve regeneration, gaps were made by resection of tibial components of sciatic nerves of twenty-five New Zealand rabbits. The gaps were divided into five groups. In group I, the tibial components of sciatic nerves were isolated and the incision immediately closed. In group II, 1-cm segments of the nerve were removed and the silicon tubes filled with autogenous skeletal muscle were sutured in place. In group III, 1-cm segments of the nerve were removed and the silicon tubes filled without muscle were sutured in place. In group IV, 2-cm segments of the nerve were removed and the silicon tubes filled with autogenous skeletal muscle were sutured in place. In group V, 2-cm segments of the nerve were removed and the silicon tubes filled without muscle were sutured in place. At 16th week, the eletromyography, the light and transmission electron microscopy were performed. Nerve conduction study stimulating sciatic nerve proximal to the lesion and recording at gastrocnemius muscle showed that the compound muscle action potentials of the group II with 1 cm nerve defect filled with muscle were higher amplitudes than the group III without muscle. Compound muscle action potentials of the group IV with 2 cm defect filled with muscle showed similar results in comparison with the group V. The light and transmission electron microscpy showed that a good morphological pattern of nerve regeneration in 1 cm gap than 2 cm and in gap with muscle than gap without muscle.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.201-211
• /
• 2005

Cdc2 kinase is a prototypical cyclin-dependent kinase critical for G2 to M phase cell cycle transition. Yet, its function in the nervous system is largely unknown. Here, we investigated possible role of Cdc2 in axonal regeneration using sciatic nerve system in rat. Cdc2 protein levels and activity were increased in the injured sciatic nerves 3 and 7 days after crush injury and then decreased to basal level 14 days later. Administration of Cdc2 kinase inhibitor roscovitine in vivo at the time of crush injury significantly inhibited axonal regeneration when regrowing axons were analyzed using retrograde tracers. Cdc2 protein levels in cultured Schwann cells which were prepared from sciatic nerves 7 days after crush injury were much higher compared with those from uninjured sciatic nerves, suggesting that Cdc2 protein expression was primarily induced in the Schwann cells. To further investigate Cdc2 function in Schwann cell, we examined changes in cultured Schwann cell proliferation and migration in culture system. Both the number of proliferating Schwann cells and the extent of neurite outgrowth from co-cultured DRG neurons were significantly decreased by Cdc2 inhibitor roscovitine treatment in DRG culture which was prepared from animals with sciatic nerve injury for 7 days. Also, Schwann cell migration in the injured sciatic nerve explant was significantly inhibited by roscovitine treatment. Taken together, the present data suggest that Cdc2 may be involved in peripheral nerve regeneration via Schwann cell proliferation and migration.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.213-220
• /
• 1992

The sciatic nerves of anesthetized rabbits were exposed and stimulated by a nerve stimulator in order to observe the myoneural response. These rabbits were divided into three groups and respectively injected with morphine (Group 1), meperidine(Group 2) and pentazocine (Group 3). The sciatic nerves were stimulated periodically and gait changes were observed to see the myoneural activity after the injections. When the distal part of the sciatic nerves were stimulated by the nerve stimulator after the respective drug injections, the normal muscle twitch responses were observed in all the progressional stages of Group 1. However, in Group 2 and 3, the muscle twitch responses decreased gradually, finally disappearing after approximately 10 minutes in these two groups. Complete motor paralysis continued for about 60 minutes. The muscle reactions returned to normal approximately 90 minutes after injection. Specimens drug-injected tissues were severed 4 hours, 24 hours and 1 week after injection respectively. These tissue were investigated under light as well as electron microscopy. The tissue revealed rare to moderate vacuolizations scattered in the axons of the myelinated and unmyelinated nerves of some of the specimens; however, there were no significant pathologic lesions. These results provide evidence that neurophysiologically, meperidine and pentazocine have a local anesthetic-like effect such as motor paralysis, but morphine does not. In addition, the results indicated that neurohistologically, the three narcotics have no significant toxic effects on the nerve tissue.