Electromyographic Investigations of the Tongue and Circumoral Muscular Sling with Fine-Wire Electrodes

Abstract

The electromyograPhic (EMG) examination of 11 normal individuals in whom bipolar fine-wire indwelling electrodes were placed showed no EMG activity during rest periods and only very slight to slight activity during normal oral functions. During aberrant oral activity, such as thumb-sucking, the orbicularis oris and genioglossus muscles gave a marked EMG response and the buccinator muscles were slightly active. These findings may help explain the classical malocclusions seen in tongue-thrustets and thumb-suckers.