Exam 2 week 8 ppt 8 Intro to Somatic Motor System Flashcards
What are motor systems defined as?
–All structures of the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS) that contribute to motor activity
Define Upper motor neuron
–Upper motor neuron
- Projects to lower motor neuron
- Located in motor cortex or brainstem
- Indirectly in Cerebellum & basal nuclei
As discussed previously Upper motor neuron are those motor system neurons that Project to lower motor neurons. These are located in motor cortex, Also as previously discussed upper and lower motor neurons are defined by their connections not their position in the nervous system. For instance upper motor neurons of the pontomedullary junction (vestibular nuclei) can innerate lower motor neurons of the midbrain (oculomotor nucleus neurons)
Define lower motor neuron
–Lower motor neuron
- §Projects directly to skeletal muscle
As discussed previously Upper motor neuron are those motor system neurons that Project to lower motor neurons. These are located in motor cortex, Also as previously discussed upper and lower motor neurons are defined by their connections not their position in the nervous system. For instance upper motor neurons of the pontomedullary junction (vestibular nuclei) can innerate lower motor neurons of the midbrain (oculomotor nucleus neurons)
Components/paths (general) of motor systems & pathways: (4)
- Origin from the upper motor neurons
- Descending pathway – with decussation in some pathways
- Synapse on a lower motor neuron
- The efferent fibers of the lower motor neuron are the only connection between the CNS and PNS
Two things that Motor systems include;
Include
- Neuromuscular junction
- Circuitry to plan, program, coordinate, and modulate the descending motor pathways
More about UMNs (2)
- •Projections that descend to converge on alpha lower motor neurons
- •Originate from many higher motor centers
What are the higher motor centers that UMNs originate from?
- Cerebral Motor Cortex
- Brainstem nuclei
As a higher motor center where UMNs orgiginate, what is the cerebral motor cortex responsible for?
§Responsible for voluntary movement
As a higher motor center where UMNs orgiginate, what are the brainstem nuclei responsible for? (4)
- Influencing voluntary movement,
- Posture
- Muscle tone
- Regulation of reflexes
Name the motor tracts that are included in the prominent motor descending pathways? (5)
- Corticospinal
- Reticulospinal
- Vestibulospinal
- Tectospinal
- Rubrospinal
another name for corticospinal tract
pyramidal tract
do motor tracts go ipsilaterally or contralaterally?
–Some decussate,
some ipsilateral &
some bilateral
In descending Decussated pathways: are s/s contralateral or ipsilateral if the damage is rostral to the decussation?
Contralateral
In descending Decussated pathways: are s/s contralateral or ipsilateral if the damage is caudal to the decussation?
ipsilateral s/s
What are two distinct types of LMNs?
- –Alpha (a) motor neurons – cause voluntary muscle contraction
- –Gamma (g) motor neurons – specialized to control gain of muscle receptor (muscle spindle)