jaw-winking syndrome; Marcus Gunn phenomenon; trigemino-oculomotor synkineses

Pathology

• an exaggeration of a very weak physiologic co-contraction that has been disinhibited secondary to a congenital brainstem lesion
• stimulation of the trigeminal nerve by contraction of the pterygoid muscles of jaw results in the excitation of the branch of the oculomotor nerve that innervates the levator palpebrae superioris ipsilaterally (synkinesis)

Genetics

• autosomal-dominant condition with incomplete penetrance

Clinical manifestations

• nursing infants will have rhythmic upward jerking of their upper eyelid

Management

• Treatment is usually unnecessary

More general terms

• syndrome
• genetic disease of the nervous system
• nervous system malformation