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The Journal of Headache and Pain logoLink to The Journal of Headache and Pain
. 2004 Apr;5(1):12–14. doi: 10.1007/s10194-004-0062-0

Cervical muscles in the pathogenesis of migraine headache

Elliot Shevel 1,, Egilius H Spierings 2
PMCID: PMC3452145

Abstract

The pathogenesis of migraine headache is poorly understood but the trigeminovascular system seems to play an important role in it. The trigeminal nucleus caudalis is sensitised by noxious sensory stimuli, often from convergent afferents originating from a variety of tissues. In this paper, we review evidence to support the view that the cervical muscles play a role in the pathogenesis of the migraine headache as well by facilitating the mechanism of central sensitisation.

Key words: Cervical muscles, Migraine, Central sensitisation, Convergence

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