Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.

Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

Feedback helps us identify gaps, errors, usability problems and opportunities to improve Compass over time.

How Compass is developedGive feedback

Movement and daily function

Bulbar

A word for the muscles used in speaking and swallowing, and for changes affecting them.

What it means

The bulb is an old name for the part of the brain, just above the spinal cord, that controls the mouth, tongue, throat and the roof of the mouth. So "bulbar" is shorthand for that group of muscles. "Bulbar involvement" means speech and swallowing are affected.

Why you might hear it

  • It appears constantly in clinic letters and research summaries.
  • It is used to describe where symptoms started as well as what is affected now.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.