Crocodile Tears

Crocodile Tears

Crocodile tears, or Bogorad’s syndrome, reflect inappropriate unilateral lacrimation during eating, such that tears may spill down the face (epiphora). This autonomic synkinesis is a striking but rare consequence of aberrant reinnervation of the facial (VII) nerve, usually after a Bell’s palsy, when fibers originally supplying the salivary glands are re-routed to the lacrimal gland via the greater superficial petrosal nerve.

 

Cross References

Bell’s palsy; Epiphora; Synkinesia, Synkinesis