[Role of functional interaction between the facial and masticatory muscles in the genesis of synkineses in patients with neuritis of the facial nerve].

The electromyogram of orbicular muscles of the eye and masticatory muscles was studied in 19 patients with facial nerve neuritis and 11 normals. In a maximum contraction of the masticatory muscles, the orbicular muscles of the eye showed an activity equal to about 9% of the maximum amplitude of the orbicular muscles. Similar activity in the paretic muscles was not decreased. The development of secondary synkinesia is postulated.