title: Masticatory muscle hyperactivity in temporomandibular disorders: is it an extrapyramidally expressed disorder?
abstract: Masticatory muscle hyperactivity appears to have an important role in temporomandibular disorders. A pathophysiological model for masticatory muscle hyperactivity is proposed that is centrally mediated, yet maintains support for present peripheral causes and therapies. In this hypothesis, masticatory muscle hyperactivity represents a mild extrapyramidal disorder distantly related to orofacial dyskinesias. Experimental evidence suggests a neurotransmitter imbalance in the basal ganglia, involving dopaminergic preponderance, or cholinergic and GABA-nergic hypofunction as the underlying cause.
mesh_terms: D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents