Central Control of Movement Flashcards
What is the heirarchy of motor control?
Cortex: planning
Mid-brain- Equilibrium
Brain stem- Posture
Spinal cord- Execution
Movements
Voluntary- skilled, learned, conscious
Involuntary- postural, antigravity
What are the 2 major groups of descending pathways?
Lateral pathways and ventromedial pathways
Lateral pathways
Involved in voluntary movement of the distal musculature (limbs)
Ventromedial pathways
Involved in the control of posture and locomotion
Corticospinal tract (lateral pathway)
Controls primary motor activity for the somatic motor system from the neck to the feet
Lesion of the corticospinal tract
Inability to manipulate the lips and tongue
Deficit in fore legs (muscle weakness)
Conscious proprioeptive deficit
Spastic paralysis
Rubrospinal tract (lateral pathway)
Control of muscle tone in flexor muscle groups (important for newborns)
Lesions in the rubrospinal tract
Ataxia (precise aiming at the target)
Impairment of distal movement (impaired ability to grasp)
Reticulospinal tract (ventromedial)
Excites flexors and inhibits extensors
Helps with voluntary movement staying at equilibrium
Lesion in the reticulospinal tract
lack of anticipatory adaption
Increased reflex activity
Impaired motor movement
Abnormal posture
Vestibulospinal tract (ventromedial)
Balancing system in the ear
Works when the body is in motion
Ipsilateral
Lesion in the vestibulospinal tract
Loss of antigravity muscle tone
Postural destabilization
Vestibular ataxia
Head and body will tilt to the injured side
Descending brainstem motor pathways to the spinal cord (rubrospinal)
- Motor cortices
- Red nucleus
- Rubrospinal tract
- Lateral white matter (lateral column) and lateral part of gray matter
PNS - Distal musculature
Descending brainstem motor pathways to the spinal cord (Reticulospinal)
- Motor circles
- Reticular formation
- Reticulospinal tract
- Medial white matter (ventral column) and medial part of gray matter
PNS - Axial proximal musculature