Body Movement

Question 1

Describe the location of:

the motor cortex

Answer 1

The motor cortex is located in the most posterior part of the frontal lobe, just anterior to the central sulcus.

Question 2

Define:

a Brodmann area

Answer 2

A Brodmann area is a region of the cerebral cortex defined by its particular cellular structure and organization.

Brodmann areas are named with specific numbers.

Question 3

What two Brodmann areas comprise the motor cortex?

Answer 3

Areas 4 and 6

Area 4 is located just anterior to the central sulcus (precentral gyrus), while area 6 is just anterior to area 4.

Question 4

Which Brodmann area comprises the primary motor cortex?

Answer 4

Brodmann area 4

Question 5

Define:

contralateral, as it describes the brain

Answer 5

Contralateral describes the characteristic of the brain that each cerebral hemisphere corresponds to the movements and the sensations of the opposite side of the body.

Question 6

Define:

somatotopic, as it describes the brain

Answer 6

Somatotopic describes the characteristic of the brain that every area of the body corresponds to a specific point on the brain.

In motor function, this point is located on the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus).

In sensory function, this point is located on the primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus).

Question 7

Define:

the motor homunculus

Answer 7

The motor homunculus is a complete map of the motor cortex that pinpoints the exact location of the cortex that corresponds to the movement of each body part.

There is also a sensory homunculus that maps out the somatosensory cortex.

Question 8

To what are the areas of the motor homunculus proportional?

Answer 8

The areas of the motor homunculus are proportional to the complexity of the movements they perform, not to the size of the body part.

For example, the areas of the homunculus that correspond to the hands and face are very large compared to those for the legs and arms.

Question 9

What are the two subdivisions of Brodmann area 6 of the motor cortex?

Answer 9

1. The premotor area (PMA)
2. The supplementary motor area (SMA)

Question 10

Describe the location and function of:

the premotor area (PMA) of the motor cortex

Answer 10

The premotor area (PMA ) is located in the lateral portion of Brodmann area 6 and is responsible for integrating sensory information with motor movements, as well as controlling the muscles closest to the body’s main axis.

Question 11

Describe the location and function of:

the supplementary motor area (SMA) of the motor cortex

Answer 11

The supplementary motor area (SMA) is located on the medial aspect of Brodmann area 6 and is responsible for planning complex movements, as well as coordinating movement of the body’s extremities.

Question 12

Describe the role of:

the posterior parietal cortex in body movement

Answer 12

The posterior parietal cortex functions to assist the motor cortex in regulating voluntary movement by receiving somatosensory, proprioreceptive, and visual imputs, and using this information to determine body position and plan for body movement.

Question 13

What are the names of the nerve bundles that comprise the basal ganglia?

Answer 13

The nerve bundles of the basal ganglia include:

1. The caudate nucleus
2. The putamen
3. The globus pallidus
4. The subthalamic nucleus

Although the substantia nigra is closely associated with the basal ganglia, it is not considered to be part of the grouping.

Question 14

Describe the function of:

the basal ganglia

Answer 14

The basal ganglia work as part of a complex loop involving the cortex and the thalamus, in which voluntary motor functions become initiated, coordinated, and regulated.

The basal ganglia also work in conjunction with a similar loop in the cerebellum.

Question 15

What basal ganglia structures are targets for cortical afferents?

Answer 15

Both the caudate nucleus and the putamen, which together form the striatum, are targets for cortical afferents into the basal ganglia.

Question 16

What basal ganglia structure is the location of efferents to the thalamus?

Answer 16

The globus pallidus emits efferents from the basal ganglia to the thalamus.

Question 17

In what order does information pass through brain structures involved in the basal ganglia motor loop?

Answer 17

The order in which information passes through the basal ganglia motor loop is the following:

1. Cortex
2. Striatum (caudate nucleus, putamen)
3. Globus Pallidus
4. Thalamus
5. Cortex (supplementary motor area)

Question 18

What are two diseases associated with the basal ganglia?

Answer 18

Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease

Question 19

What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 19

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease often include difficulty starting planned movements, as well as trembles and slowness during movement.

Parkinson’s patients show a deficiency in dopamine in the basal ganglia.

Question 20

What are the symptoms of Huntington’s disease that are associated with movement?

Answer 20

The symptoms of Huntington’s disease related to movement include the following:

1. Involuntary jerking
2. Involuntary and sustained muscle contraction
3. Slow and uncoordinated movements
4. Muscle rigidity
5. Impaired balance, posture, and gait

Question 21

Describe the functions of:

the cerebellum

Answer 21

The functions of the cerebellum include:

1. Storing previously learned movements
2. Assisting in the fine-tuning and coordination of movements
3. Analyzing visual signals associated with movements
4. Determining the speed and fluidity of movements, in order to adjust motor signals accordingly

The cerebellum is divided into three regions, each of which has a particular function.

Question 22

Which brain structure must information pass through before reaching the cerebellum?

Answer 22

The cortex projects its axons to the pons, before the pons projects its axons to the cerebellum.

Question 23

Through which brain structure must information pass through from the cerebellum on its way to the cortex?

Answer 23

The cerebellum sends its axons to the thalamus, specifically the ventrolateral nucleus, before reaching the motor cortex.

Question 24

Define:

the vermis

Answer 24

The vermis is the midline structure between the two hemispheres of the cerebellum that closely resembles a worm.

Question 25

What are the three regions of the cerebellum?

Answer 25

1. vestibulocerebellum
2. spinocerebellum
3. cerebrocerebellum

Question 26

Describe the function of:

the vestibulocerebellum

Answer 26

The vestibulocerebellum is closely involved with balance because it is connected to the vestibule of the inner ear.

Question 27

Describe the function of:

the spinocerebellum

Answer 27

The spinocerebellum, because of its close association with the spinal cord, functions to maintain body posture, control muscle tension, and relax the muscles required for planned movements.

Question 28

Describe the function of:

the cerebrocerebellum

Answer 28

The cerebrocerebellum, because of its close connection with the cortex, functions to coordinate voluntary muscle movements.

It controls both the muscles causing the action, and relaxes muscles opposing the planned action.

Question 29

What are the names of the four cerebellar nuclei?

Answer 29

1. fastigial
2. emboliform
3. globose
4. dentate

Question 30

What are the symptoms of a person with cerebellar damage?

Answer 30

A person with cerebellar damage will experience difficulties coordinating balance and posture, have an uncertain gait, and often times when reaching for an object, hand movement will begin too slowly and quickly accelerate past the intended object.

Regardless of the origin of the damage, the associated manifestations of cerebellar damage is called cerebellar syndrome.