Effects of hypoglossal nerve block and electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles on position of the larynx and hyoid apparatus in healthy horses.
Abstract: To determine the effects of hypoglossal nerve block and electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles on position of the larynx and hyoid apparatus in resting horses. Methods: 16 healthy horses that underwent hypoglossal nerve block and 5 healthy horses that underwent electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles. Methods: Horses underwent bilateral hypoglossal nerve block or electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles. Positions of the basihyoid bone, ossified part of the thyroid cartilage, and articulations of the thyrohyoid bones and thyroid cartilage were determined in radiographic images obtained before and after performance of hypoglossal nerve blocks or during thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation. Radiographic images were obtained with the heads of horses in neutral (thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation) or neutral and extended (hypoglossal nerve block) positions. Radiographic images of horses obtained after performance of hypoglossal nerve blocks were also evaluated to detect dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Results: Hypoglossal nerve blocks did not induce significant changes in the positions of evaluated anatomic sites in radiographic images obtained in neutral or extended head positions. Hypoglossal nerve block did not induce dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses at rest. Bilateral thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation induced significant dorsal movement (mean ± SD change in position, 18.7 ± 6.8 mm) of the ossified part of the thyroid cartilage; rostral movement of evaluated anatomic structures was small and not significant after thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation. Conclusions: Bilateral electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles in horses in this study induced dorsal laryngeal movement.
Publication Date: 2013-05-01 PubMed ID: 23627393DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.5.784Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the impacts of both hypoglossal nerve block and electrical stimulation of thyrohyoideus muscles on the position of the larynx and hyoid apparatus in horses.
Research Methodology
- The study employed a sample consisting of 16 healthy horses subjected to hypoglossal nerve block and 5 healthy horses that underwent electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles.
- Each horse received a bilateral hypoglossal nerve block or electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles.
- The researchers studied the positions of the basihyoid bone, ossified part of the thyroid cartilage, and articulations of the thyrohyoid bones and thyroid cartilage, as shown in radiographic images. These images were captured before and after hypoglossal nerve blocks or during thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation.
- These radiographic images were taken while the horses’ heads were in neutral (during thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation) or neutral and extended (during hypoglossal nerve block) positions.
- The team also examined radiographic images made after hypoglossal nerve blocks to check any dorsal displacement of the soft palate.
Key Findings
- Hypoglossal nerve blocks did not bring any significant changes to the positions of the examined anatomical sites in radiographic images taken either in neutral or extended head positions.
- No dorsal displacement of the soft palate in horses at rest was observed following a hypoglossal nerve block.
- Bilateral thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation resulted in significant dorsal movement (average change in position was 18.7 ± 6.8 mm) of the ossified part of the thyroid cartilage. However, the rostral movement of evaluated anatomical structures was small and insignificant after thyrohyoideus muscle stimulation.
Conclusions
- Pertaining to this study, bilateral electrical stimulation of thyrohyoideus muscles in horses led to dorsal movement of the larynx. Hypoglossal nerve blocks, on the other hand, did not result in any significant anatomical shifts or dorsal displacement of the soft palate in resting horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Zantingh AJ, Ducharme NG, Mitchell LM, Cheetham J.
(2013).
Effects of hypoglossal nerve block and electrical stimulation of the thyrohyoideus muscles on position of the larynx and hyoid apparatus in healthy horses.
Am J Vet Res, 74(5), 784-789.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.5.784 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Electric Stimulation
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Hyoid Bone / physiology
- Hypoglossal Nerve / drug effects
- Larynx / physiology
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal
- Nerve Block / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Cercone M, Olsen E, Perkins JD, Cheetham J, Mitchell LM, Ducharme NG. Investigation into pathophysiology of naturally occurring palatal instability and intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses: Thyro-hyoid muscles fatigue during exercise. PLoS One 2019;14(10):e0224524.
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