Supraorbital Reflex

Supraorbital Reflex is a reflexive closing of the eyelids when lightly tapping the forehead in the area of ​​the supraorbital nerve. This occurs due to a reflex contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle, innervated by the branches of the trigeminal nerve.

This reflex is checked by a doctor during a neurological examination by tapping the brow ridge on both sides. The normal reaction is to blink both eyes in response to stimulation. A weakened or absent reflex may indicate damage to the trigeminal nerve or supraorbital nerve, as well as pathology of the brain stem.

Thus, the supraorbital reflex allows us to assess the integrity and functioning of the cranial nerves and pathways involved in this unconditioned reflex. Its testing is an important component of the neurological examination.

The Supraorbital Reflex is a reflex response of the body to stimulation of the supraorbital nerve, which is located in the forehead. The reflex can be induced by lightly tapping the forehead in the area where the supraorbital nerve passes.

When this nerve is stimulated, the orbicularis oculi muscle contracts, causing the eyelids to close. This reflex is observed in all healthy people and is an important tool for diagnosing the nervous system.

The Supraorbital reflex is used in medicine to determine the state of the nervous system. For example, if the reflex is absent, this may indicate damage to the supraorbital nerve or its nucleus in the brain. In addition, changes in the reflex may indicate other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and others.

The Supraorbital reflex can also be used as a tool to assess the depth of anesthesia. For example, with light anesthesia the reflex is preserved, but with deep anesthesia it is absent.

Although the Supraorbital Reflex is an important diagnostic tool, its use should be limited to qualified professionals only. Improperly performing the test may result in false results, which may lead to inappropriate treatment.

Overall, the Supraorbital Reflex is an important tool for diagnosing the nervous system and can be used in various fields of medicine. It allows you to determine the state of the supraorbital nerve and its nucleus in the brain, as well as assess the depth of anesthesia. Despite this, its use should be limited to qualified professionals only to avoid misdiagnosis and treatment.

**Supraorbital reflex** (Supraorbital reflex) is a very simple to perform, but important for diagnosis reflex that can be easily performed. The supraorbital reflex is a movement of the superciliary region that ensures the closure of the eye in response to tapping on the top of the left or right side of the forehead. In this case, the movement resembles the tapping of a goose's wing. Typically, the movement is performed primarily by the muscle of the inner corner of the eye (which is determined when the upper eyelid is raised) and without the participation of fibers that transmit electrical excitations from the vagus nerve upward to the orbicularis oculi fiber. Normally, this reflex can be induced by lightly tapping the forehead above the eye sockets in a circular motion, after which the patient tries to cover his head. This occurs because irritation of the supraorbital nerve initiates a reflex contraction of the orbicularis muscles. You can compare this reflexive movement with the sound effect of tapping the wing of a chicken. However, there are cases when another type of deviation occurs associated with a change in the function of the mechanism that regulates the mechanism of the reflex in question, for example, a deviation not in the direction of closing, but to a shift in the other direction, that is, instead of closing the eye, turning the head. This is explained by the fact that in each eyelid there are two muscles - the lateral and the medial, so that even if the reflex is deviated instead of closing the eyelid, this suggests the presence of two normal reduced muscles responsible for the normal displacement of movement under the influence of irritation passing through the supraorbital nerve, such This is how the joint participation of various muscles or fibers is manifested.