L113: Voluntary Movements

Question 1

What are semi-automatic actions?

Answer 1

‘Voluntary’ but you don’t have to think about them e.g. walking, breathing, chewing

Question 2

What drives semi-automatic actions?

Answer 2

Central pattern generators (CPGs), specific to each action initiated/ maintained

(higher control neurones-CPG-effectors)

Question 3

What do lesions of sensory pathways cause?

Answer 3

• Anaesthesia (loss of sensation);

- Parasthesia (altered sensation).

Question 4

What do lesions of motor pathways cause?

Answer 4

Palsy (paralysis)

Question 5

What does damage to lower motor neurones (LMN), the final common pathway, cause? e.g. nerve injury - virus, polio

Answer 5

• No reflexes;

- Muscle atrophy.

Question 6

What does damage to upper motor neurones (UMN) cause? e.g. CNS injury - stroke

Answer 6

• No voluntary movement;

- Exaggerated reflexes.

Question 7

Name three areas that motor projections (pathways) arise from.

Answer 7

• Basal ganglia;
• Cerebellum;
• Brainstem.

Question 8

Name two basal ganglia disorders.

Answer 8

• Parkinson’s disease;

- Huntington’s disease.

Question 9

What type of disease is Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 9

Hypokinetic, reduced movements

Question 10

What type of disease is Huntington’s disease?

Answer 10

Hyperkinetic, increased movements

Question 11

Why are movements effected with basal ganglia disorders?

Answer 11

Imbalance of neurotransmitters

Question 12

What is the cerebellum responsible for?

Answer 12

• Co-ordinating movements;

- Maintaining balance, recieves input from proprioceptors.

Question 13

What is typical with cerebellar disorders?

Answer 13

• Loss of co-ordination;
• Unsteady gait (ataxia);
• Imprecise actions.