12. Motor Tracts (Keim) Flashcards

1
Q

What are the signs for upper motor neuron damage?

A
  • Upper
    • Hyperreflexia
    • Babinski
    • Loss of strength and dexterity
    • Spasticity
    • Rigidity
    • Pronator Drift
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the signs for lower motor neuron damage?

A
  • Lower
    • Flaccid paralysis
    • Muscle wasting
    • Hyporeflexia / areflexia
    • Denervation hypersensitivity or fasciculations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the orientation of proximal / distal and flexors vs extensor fibers in the anterior horn?

A

The proximal motor neurons (trunk) are more medial, and distal motor neurons are more lateral.

Also flexors are more posterior, and extensors are more anterior.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the two lateral indirect upper motor neuron pathways?

What is significant about indirect pathways?

A

Rubrospinal tract

Lateral reticulospinal tract

tonically activate antigravity and axial LMNs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the function of the medial vestibulospinal tract?

starts

ends

A

coordination of head movement

mid/lower vestibular nuclei in medulla

cervical and thoracic levels (neck/shoulder m.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of the lateral vestibulospinal tract?

starts

ends

A

faciliation of extension against gravity

vestibular nuclei in pons

IL LMN for postural muscles and limb extensors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of the tectospinal tract?

Starts:

Ends:

A

Turns one’s head toward sound and pointing the head where the eyes are pointed.

Superior Colliculus

Neck Muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the function of the lateral/medullary reticulospinal tract?

Starts:

Ends:

A

facilitates flexor motor neurons and modulates extesor mechanisms ipsilaterally.

Inhibits spinal segmental reflexes

medullary reticular formation

flexors/extensors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the rubrospinal tract?

starts

ends

A

facillitation of the upper limb flexors contralaterally.

red nucleus

CL upper limb flexors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Where do the fibers of the lateral corticospinal tract arise from?

A

Primary motor cortex

Supplementary motor area

Premotor cortex

ALSO

Primary somatosensory cortex

Parietal association cortex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the path of the fibers of the lateral corticospinal tract pathway from cortex to spinal cord?

A

Cortex

Posterior limb of internal capsule

Midbrain in the middle 1/3 of the cerebral peduncles.

Pons

Pyramids in the medulla

Decussation of pyramids

Lateral column of the spinal cord

Synapse with LMN in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the somatotopic organization of the fibers from the lateral corticospinal tract as they pass through the posterior limb of the internal capsule?

A

Same as the anterolateral system

The lower fibers are more lateral (posterolateral to be precise)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What arteries supply the internal capsule?

A

Lenticulostriate arteries off the middle cerebral A.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What artery supplies the corticospinal tract in the midbrain?

In the pons?

In the medulla?

A

Corticospinal tract arteries:

Midbrain – posterior cerebral A. (P1)

Pons – paramedian branches of basilar A.

Medulla – sulcal branches of anterior spinal A.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What motor nuclei are present in the pons?

A

5, 6, 7

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What motor nuclei are present in the midbrain?

A

3, 4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What motor nuclei are present in the medulla?

A

IX, X (nucleus ambiguus)

XII

(9, 10, 12)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Differentiate between Central Seven and Bell’s Palsy

Why does Central Seven show the distribution that it does?

A

Central Seven only has lower facial dropping on the contralateral side of lower face (lesion rostral to facial motor nucleus of corticobulbar tract)

Bell’s Palsy has upper and lower facial drooping on the ipsilateral side (CN VII)

The forehead gets bilateral input from the corticobulbar tract, while CN VII innervates contralateral sides of the lower face only (no bilat. input there)

19
Q

Medial Medullary Syndrome

What A. involved?

What structures affected?

What sx?

A

AKA Dejerine Syndrome

ASA-sulcal branches

pyramid, medial lemniscus, CN XII

Contralateral hemiplegia (UMN)

contralateral loss of prop./vib/touch to body

Deviation of tongue TOWARD lesion (LMN)

20
Q

What is lateral medullary syndrome?

What A. is involved

What structures are hit

If it’s in the pons:

If it’s in the medulla:

what are the sx ?

A

AKA Wallenberg Syndrome

PICA

ALS, Spinal Trige. Tract and nucleus

CN VI and VII involvement

LMN IX/X

loss ot temp/pain to CL body

loss of temp/pain to IL face

hoarse voice, K sound is hard to make, dysphagia (Medulla), or abducens/facial deficits (pons), IL Horner’s

21
Q

Central Cord Syndrome

What is it?

What are the symptoms?

A

Basically same as Syringomyelia symptom-wide

compression and damage to central portion of spinal cord

MOI: cervical hyperextension

22
Q

Anterior Cord Syndrome

What is it?

What are the sx?

A

compression/damage to anterior part of spinal cord due to damage of the ASA (infarct), IV disc herniation, or radiation myelopathy

Bilateral LMN at the level and and UMN below the level

23
Q

LMN topographically organized how?

A

All in anterior horn

Flexors in the back

Extensors in the front

distal limbs out in lateral

proximal axials in medial

24
Q

Syringomyelia

What causes it?

What is affected sensation-wise?

What is affected motor-wise?

What congenital disease is it associated with?

A

formation of cysts within the spinal cord in the central canal commonly at C4-ish but can form anywhere

pain and temp affected in cape pattern (AWC hit first)

LMN signs if ventral horns affected

UMN if Lateral Corticpspinal tract is affected (arms first)

typically associated with Chiari I

25
Q

Brown-Sequard Syndrome

What type of lesion is this?

What is affected

What are the s/s

A

Hemisected spinal cord

ALS, PCMLS, LMN, UMN

  • CL pain/temp loss 2-3 levels below lesion (due to Lissaur’s tract)
  • IL discriminative touch and proprioception
  • IL LMN flaccid paralysis @ level of lesion
  • IL UMN below level of lesion (babinski, weakness, spasticity, etc)
26
Q

Complete Transection of the Spinal Cord

What is affected?

What s/s?

A

ALS, PCMLS, UMN, LMN

all sensation is gone 1-2 levels below lesion bilaterally.

Loss of bowel/bladder control

Initial spinal shock, loss of reflexes, LMN sx @ level

~6wks later UMN BELOW level show

Note that LMN s/s will mask any other s/s since it is the most “downstream”

27
Q

Describe s/s of a lesion in the cortex, internal capsule or cerebral peduncles BEFORE the pyramidal decussation

A

Affects Corticospinal (arms and legs) and Corticobulbar (face)

CL UMN issues

CL facial droop

28
Q

Describe a lesion below the pyramidal decussation?

A

Affects Corticospinal Tract (arms and legs)

IL s/s

LMN sx will mask any UMN sx

29
Q

What does decorticate posturing/rigidity look like?

What causes it?

A

tucked thumb, flexed fingers, fist, pronated forearm, flexed elbow, LE extension and inverted foot

Lesion is ABOVE the level of the red nucleus ( midbrain)

lesion likely in diencephalon or telencephalon

Why? Red nucleus houses rubrospinal tract which allows us to flex

30
Q

What causes Decerebrate Posturing/rigidity?

What does it look like?

What tracts are still intact?

What other pathology can cause this?

A

Lesion BELOW red nucleus/including it, but ABVE reticulospinal and vestibulospinal nuclei

UE in pronation and extensino and LE in extension

reticulospinal and vestibulospinal intact; CST and CBT damaged

Can be caused by transtentorial herniation

31
Q

Rule of thumb for localizing lesions of UMN

A

above lower medulla (where CST crosses) signs will be CONTRALATERAL

In spinal cord, signs will be IPSILATERAL

32
Q

Sx of LMN lesions

A

“think floppy”

flaccid paralysis

wasting/atrophy

hyporeflexia

hypotonia

denervation hypersensitivity/fascicullations

33
Q

Sx of UMN Syndrome

A

CST deficit: loss of distal extremity strength and dexterity

babinski

UMN Lesion: hypertonia/spasticity

Basal Ganglia disease: Rigidity

Hyperreflexia with/without clonus

clasp-knife

pronator drift

34
Q

What is the function of the medial/pontine reticulospinal tract?

Starts:

Ends:

A

Facilitation of IL postural reflexes

pontine reticular formation

IL LMN in postural muscles and limb extensors

35
Q

What is the function of the corticobulbar tract?

What is the function of the Corticospinal tract

A

control of muscles of the face, chewing, speech and swallowing

fine motor control of hand, motor neuron recruitment to increase force, inhibition of postural reflexes

36
Q

Where do the medial LMNs receive input from?

A

tectospinal tract

medial vstibulospinal tract

medial reticulospainl tract

medial corticospinal tact

lateral vestibulospinal tract

All located in anterior funiculus

37
Q

Where do Lateral LMNs receive input from?

A

rubrospinal tract

lateral reticulospinal tract

lateral corticospinal tract

Know locations for downstairs

38
Q

Describe a lesion above the pons in the CBT

A

MoM no effect

Forehead okay bilaterally

Lower face droop CL

39
Q

Describe a CBT lesion in the Medulla

A CBT lesion in the spinal cord will have

A

CL palate weak

uvular deviation toward lesion

tongue deviation toward lesion

40
Q

Describe the corticobulbar tract

A

UMN arises from ventral part of cortical area 4 and descends into brainstem innervating these CN

LMN 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 (NO EYEs)

axons will cross and control contralateral side except 11

41
Q

describe the corticobulbar tract pathway

A

descend through genu of internal capsule

passes thru the 3Ps: cerebral Peduncles, anterior Pons, Pyramids

stops at specific motor nucleus

Cross and pyramidal decussation

42
Q

What artery supplies the posterior limb of the internal capsule?

What happens if it’s occluded?

A

lenticulostriate A. (main) with some from anterior choroidal A.

Can lose motor, sensory and vision

43
Q

Describe the Corticospinal Tract Pathway

A

cell bodies in cortex descend though posterior limb of internal capsule

passes through 3P: cerebral peduncles, anterior Pons, Pyramids,

cross at pyramids in lower medulla

descend in lateral column called LCST

synapse with LMNs in anterior horn of SC

**sends collaterals to indirect pathways*

44
Q

the somatotopic organization of the internal capsule is set up in such a way that the arms are closes to the ___ and the legs are closes to the ___

A

genu; back of the posterior limb

(all technically in the posterior limb