24 - Motor Control 1

Question 1

What do I need to know?

Answer 1

1. Role of alpha motor neurons in control of muscle contraction
2. Alpha motor neurons as final common path
3. Role of motor units
   4 Size principle and mechanisms to control force

Question 2

What is the most frequent symptom of neurological problems?

Answer 2

Movement disorders i.e. stroke, epilepsy, parkinsons, MS are disorders of movement

Question 3

What are the 3 types of physiological movement?

Answer 3

1. Voluntary
2. Reflexes (somatic NOT autonomic)
   > vestibular (land on feet), stretch, withdrawl
3. Rhythmic motor patterns (breathing, locomotion, chewing)
   > semi-voluntary and semi-automatic. Voluntary can only influence to a certain degree

Question 4

Where in the nervous system do the 3 types of movement occur?

Answer 4

Voluntary > Cerebral Cortex/Forebrains
Somatic Reflexes > Spinal Cord + Brain Stem
Rhythmic Motor Patterns > Spinal Cord and Brain Stem

Question 5

Where do connections from motor neurons to skeletal muscle occur from?

Answer 5

Brain stem and Spinal cord

Question 6

Motor neurons/LMN/Motoneurons?

Answer 6

Output elements of motor system. Command to contract or not.

Question 7

Where are motor neurons located?

Answer 7

1. In the spinal cord at each 31 segements