title: Normal sensation of the human face and neck.
abstract: A total of 116 adult volunteers were studied to determine normal values for static two-point discrimination and sensation of pressure of the head and neck. Thirteen regions of the head and neck corresponding to major sensory innervation were examined bilaterally for static two-point discrimination with the Mackinnon-Dellon Disk-Criminator and for sensation of pressure with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Perception of two-point discrimination improved from lateral and posterior areas (17 to 25 mm) to the midline toward the lips (3 to 7 mm). Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments proved inadequate in determining sensitivity to cutaneous pressure because of low thresholds in the face and neck. Static two-point discrimination is a reliably reproducible method for assessing sensation of the face and neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, Mass.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Costas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heatley
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Seckel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000294:innervation*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*