Chapter 10 Part 2 Flashcards
What can disorders of the motor system cause?
Paresis and paralysis Muscle atrophy Involuntary muscle contractions Abnormal muscle tone Abnormal reflexes (see UMN syndrome) Disturbances of movement efficiency and speed Impaired postural control
What is paresis?
the partial loss of voluntary contraction
What is paralysis?
the complete loss of voluntary contraction (such as complete SCI)
What is muscle atrophy?
loss of muscle bulk
What is disuse atrophy a result of?
lack of muscle use
What causes neurogenic atrophy?
caused by damage to the nervous system
What causes the most severe atrophy?
denervation of skeletal muscle
Why does denervation of skeletal muscle cause the most severe atrophy?
because frequent neural stimulation, even at a level inadequate to produce muscle contraction, is essential for the health of skeletal muscle
What are examples of involuntary muscle contractions?
muscle spasms cramps fasciculations myoclonus tremors fibrillations abnormal movements generated by dysfunction
Muscle spasms:
sudden involuntary contractions of muscle
Cramps
severe and painful muscle spasms
Fasciculations:
quick twitches of muscle fibers of a single motor unit visible on the skin surface
Myoclonus
brief, involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles
Tremors
resting or intention) – involuntary rhythmic movements of a body part
Fibrillations
brief contractions of single muscle fibers not visible; result from UMN or LMN lesions
What conditions are pathologic?
fibrillations and abnormal movements generated by dysfunction of basal ganglia
What is muscle tone?
the resistance to stretch in the resting muscle
How is muscle tone classified?
rigidity spasticity normal hypotonia flaccidity
What is rigidity?
hypertonia (abnormally strong resistance to passive stretch
velocity independent
What is spasticity?
hypertonia
velocity dependent; sign of UMN lesion
What is hypotonia?
an abnormally low resistance to passive stretch
What is flaccidity?
the lack of resistance to passive stretch (complete loss of muscle tone)
What can damage LMNs?
Trauma, infection (e.g., poliomyelitis), degenerative or vascular disorders, and tumors
What can the affected muscles undergo when the LMN cell bodies or axons are destryoed?
Loss of reflexes
Atrophy
Flaccid paralysis
Fibrillations
What changes can UMN lesions produce?
changes in movement control Paresis or paralysis Loss of fractionation of movement Abnormal reflexes Velocity-dependent hypertonia
What are signs and symptoms of UMN syndrome?
weakness spasticity (increased tone, hyperactive reflexes) clonus babinski's sign loss of fine voluntary movements