MeaningFunction
A disorder of the medulla oblongata is seen, for example, in patients with a so-called bulbar paralysis. In this case the cranial nerves running in the medulla are affected. These have the innervation of the pharyngeal and pharyngeal muscles in common.
Accordingly, this clinical picture leads to partial paralysis of the muscles of the tongue, larynx, swallowing apparatus and masticatory muscles. Patients are conspicuous for swallowing and speech disorders, and some also suffer from breathing difficulties. Clinical signs of bulbar paralysis are atrophy and fasciculations (small trembling movements) of the tongue.
Bulbar paralysis can occur in isolation but also as an accompanying symptom in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The area postrema, colloquially known as the “vomiting center”, plays an important role in cancer patients treated with chemotherapeutic agents. These often cause severe nausea. Therefore, in these patients, attempts are made to work with drugs that inhibit the activity of the area postrema and thus the feeling of nausea and vomiting.
