L18: posture and balance Flashcards
which type of muscles are very active in postural control
extensor muscles
what brain structure is the most important for posture maintenance
brainstem
3 main sensory systems for balance
- somatosensory receptors
- visual system
- vestibular system
4 descending tracts originating in the brainstem for controlling posture
- vestibulospinal tract
- tectospinal tract
- potine reticulospinal tract
- medullary reticulospinal tract
what does ventromedial pathways control
axial or proximal trunk muscles
dorsolateral pathways control
fine muscle control
where are posture motor neurons innervating axial or proximal muscles located in the spinal cord
medially
where are voluntary movements affecting distal musculature located in the spinal cord
laterally
3 ventromedial tracts
- tectospinal
- vestibulospinal
- pontine reticulospinal
2 dorsolateral tracts
- corticospinal
- rubicospinal
function of vestibulospinal and tectospinal tracts
keep head balanced on shoulders as body moves
where does vestibulospinal receive input from
vestibular labyrinth in inner ear
where does vestibulospinal orginate from
vestibular nuclei in medulla
where does tectospinal receive input from
- retina of eye
- auditory informaiton
where does tectospinal originate from
superior colliculus (optic tectum)
what does tectospinal response lead to
direction of head and eyes to a particular location in space
where do pontine and medullar reticulospinal tracts originate from
reticular formation (controlled by inputs from the cerebellum and cortex)
what does pontine reticulospinal do
enhances antigravity reflexes of the spinal cord –> extensors of lower limb to maintain standing
what does medullary reticulospinal do
liberates antigravity muscles (opposite to pontine tract)
what happens in humans with extensive cortical damage and why
increased extensor tone bc of the brainstem action
where is the vestibular system located
inner ear
what is cranial nerve 8
vestibulocochlear
what do the otolith organs detect
force of gravity and tilts of head (linear acceleration)
what do semicircular canals detect
head rotation and angular acceleration
in both the otolith organs and semicircular canals what converts motions into neural signals
hair cells
2 parts of the otolith organs
utricle and saccule
what is the macula (same in utricle and saccule)
matrix of supporting cells and hair cells that are innervated by sensory nerve fibers