Exam

Question 1

What is the sequence of brain regions in movement and what happens at each stage?

Answer 1

1. Posterior Sensory Cortex (parietal lobe) - sends sensory information to the frontal cortex
2. Prefrontal Cortex - plans movements
3. Premotor Cortex - organized movement sequences
4. Motor Cortex - produces specific movements

Question 2

Hierarchy of Motor Control

Answer 2

1. Posterior cortex
2. Prefrontal cortex
3. Motor cortices
4. Brain stem - integrates visual and vestibular info with sensosomatory input to modify movements
5. Spinal Cord

Question 3

What is the name for the neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem involved in movement and what do they do?

Answer 3

Interneurons known as Central Pattern Generators

They organize muscle movements in an behaviourally relevant manner

Question 4

Upper motor neurons

Answer 4

Myelinated axons in the primary motor cortex that project to specific spinal segments where they synapse with neurons in the grey matter

Question 5

Lower motor neurons

Answer 5

Myelinated axons in the spinal chord that project out of the spinal chord via the ventral roots to synapse with target muscles

Question 6

The Cortico-motoneuronal component of the pyramidal tract refers to what?

Answer 6

They are coricospinal projections from the primary motor cortex and to a lesser extent the Supplementary Motor Area
> They are fast, monosynaptic and strongly excitatory

Question 7

The cortico-mononeuronal tract allows for what type of movement?

Answer 7

It makes “fractionated” use of distal muscles and independent movements of the fingers and thumb

Question 8

What are 4 symptoms of upper motorneuronal damage?

Answer 8

• Voluntary movements involving affected muscles are absent or weak
• Increased muscle spasticity
• Altered reflexes
• Initially there is minimal muscle atrophy

Question 9

What are 4 symptoms of lower motorneuronal damage?

Answer 9

• Reduced muscle tone
• weak stretch reflex
• atrophy of the affected muscles
• fibrillation