Exam 3: Chapter 13 Flashcards
where are neural reflexes integrated at? are they somatic or autonomic neurons?
entirely in the spinal cord
-both somatic and autonomic neurons
what does innate mean?
born with them, not learned
-patellar stretch, urination
what does conditioned mean?
learned and acquired through experience
-modulating urinary reflex (potty training)
what does it mean by a monosynaptic reflex?
no interneurons, only afferent & efferent neurons
-Stretch Reflex
what does it mean by a polysynaptic reflex?
multiple interneurons b/w afferent & efferent neurons
-Flexion Reflex
are autonomic (visceral) reflexes monosynaptic or polysnaptic? are they usually spinal or cranial?
polysynaptic
-use both spinal and cranial integration
-EX: urination, deification
do skeletal muscles send both excitatory and inhibitory signals?
NO, only excitatory
-contraction!
what are extrafusal fibers?
contractile fibers surround the muscle
-AP leads to contraction of fibers
-gets info through alpha neurons
what are intrafusal fibers?
fibers inside the muscle spindle
-ENDS: contractile, get efferent signals from gamma neurons
-MIDDLE: non-contractile, sends afferent signals to CNS, lack myofibrils
when are gamma neurons activated?
at the same time alpha motor neurons are activated
what is the golgi tendon organ reflex?
responds to muscle tension during the isometric phase of contraction
-uses free nerve endings and combines it’s info with other feedback
-series of elastic elements
what are muscle spindles?
responds to muscle stretch (length of muscle) that creates the stretch reflex
-small, elongated
-arranged parallel to extrafusal fibers
is the stretch reflex monosynaptic or polysynaptic?
monosynaptic
what is the stretch reflex w/o reciprocal inhibition?
- stretch signal in extrafusal fibers is detected by the muscle spindle
- muscle spindle stretches and increases afferent firing signal
- spinal cord excites and synapses with alpha & gamma motor neurons
- alpha and gamma motor neurons activate
- alpha neurons increases the efferent excitatory signal to the extrafusal fibers to contract the extensor
- gamma neuron uses alpha-gamma coactivation to shorten / length the muscle spindle in proportion to the muscle fibers by sending excitatory signals to the intrafusal fibers
what is a myotatic unit?
collection of pathways controlling a single joint
what is reciprocal inhibition?
you have to relax the flexor due to the extensor contraction in order to perform the movement
-occurs in antagonistic muscle groups