Exam 2 - Control of Mastication (Part 2) Flashcards
What is the masticatory central pattern generator?
- interconnected neural circuits producing a neural oscillatory network capable of generating simple patterns of masticatory movements
- probably located in the reticular formation and parts of the pons that contain the trigeminal nuclei
- it has both rhythm generator and pattern generator functions
- its output to masticatory motorneurons may be modified by input from afferent and central areas
How des a CPG work?
top neuron = temporalis muscle (jaw closing)
- first neuron fires –> second neuron fires –> third neuron sends action potential to alphamotor nucleus in temporalis muscle which causes jaw closing
- interneuron is activated by the second neuron which causes positive feedback and keeps the temporalis muscle activated
- in neuron 2 there is another interneuron which causes inhibition, when this occurs it will cause circuit 2 to activate (see below)
low neuron = anteiror digastric (jaw opening)
- first neuron fires –> second neuron fires –> third neuron sends action potential to the alphamotor nucleus in anterior digastric muscle which causes jaw opening
- also has a positive feedback loop similar to above from neuron 2, and an inhibitory loop which will cause activation of circuit 1
If the brain stem is cut off from higher centers and afferent input… is the CPG alone sufficient?
basic rhythmical movement will still occur
BUT
it cannot be modulated to meet the variety of challenges involved in normal mastication
What is the influence of higher centers?
- in dysfunction of masticatory area of motor cortex (i.e, stroke) there is generally failure to fully recover normal mastication
- cortex initiates feeding and tongue posture (helps with stage I transport of food)
- motor cortex is essential for co-ordination and modulation of all the motor systems in response to afferent input
What does experimental evidence from animal studies show when the sensorimotor cortex is electrically stimulated?
sensorimotor cortex produces short latency changes in excitability of masticatory motor neurons (i..e, there is a neuronal pathway linking them)
Describe the afferent and efferent information pathways used in chewing and swallowing
jaw = 5, trigeminal
hyoid =
tongue = hypoglossal
cheeks (buccinator)/ obicularis oris = 7, facial
*efferent are arrows going down
*afferent are arrows going back up to CPG
- you know when its time to stop masticating because the mucosa mechanoreceptors will tell the CPG to stop because a soft bolus has been achieved
- muscle spindle for load compensation
- PDL mechanoreceptors is for tooth dispalcement in socket
- joint is golgi tendon organs will prevent jaw from disclocating
Describe the transport pathway
What happens when you initiate stage II transport of food?
slow opening phase lengthens to allow time for pharyngeal swallow
a sequence of muscle contractions and relaxations which move material from the oral cavity to the stomach
swallowing
Describe the 4 characteristics of swallowing in an average adult human
- up to 1000 swallows/day
- relatively few while asleep
- most during waking hours (mainly to clear saliva)
- additional swallows (i.e., 150) when eating
What are the 3 stages of swallowing?
stage 1 - oral
stage 2 - pharyngeal
stage 3 - oseophageal
This stage of swallowing is traditionally considered “conscious” or when a food bolus is moved back to a glossopharyngeal nerve area
Stage 1
This stage of swallowing is traditionally considered a “striated muscle” reflex movement elicited by bolus stimulation of glossopharyngeal receptors
Stage 2
This stage of swallowing is considered a
“smooth muscle” reflex/autonomic
Stage 3
What is the traditional view of swallowing? What is the problem with this view
- human studies have looked at swallowing on “command” or consciously
- when you eat lunch and are talking with your friends are you conscious??? probably not
THUS –> swallowing can be conscious but it does not have to be conscious