Lecture 10: Spinal Cord, Brainstem, & Cortex Control of Motor Function Flashcards
What are the 3 groups of neurons in the spinal cord?
- Sensory (afferent)
- Anterior motor neurons (efferent)
- Interneurons
What is a motor unit composed of?
- Composed of a single motor neurons and the muscle fibers it innervates.
- Composed of extrafusal fibers.
What is a motor neuron pool?
Group of motor neurons that innervate fibers within the same muscle.
When talking about motor units, what does the term recruitment refer to?
Refers to the increase in tension of muscle contractions by the activation motor units (size principle).
What are the characteristics of small motor neurons?
- innervate a few muscle fibers
- lowest thresholds
- fire first
- generate smallest force
What are the characteristics of large motor neurons?
- innervate many muscle fibers
- highest thresholds
- fire last
- generate largest force
Do small or large motor neurons fire first?
Small motor units fire first.
What are Renshaw cells?
Inhibitory cells in anterior horns of the spainal cord.
From what cell type do Renshaw cells receive collateral branches from?
Receive collateral braches from alpha motor neurons.
What is the function of Renshaw cells?
- Transmit inhibitory signals to surrounding motor neurons.
- results in lateral inhibition
- enhance fluidity of limb movement
- Transmit inhibitory signals to same motor neuron.
- results in recurrent inhibition
What action of Renshaw cells enhance fluidity of limb movement?
Transmission of inhibitory signals to surrounding motor neurons.
List the functions of interneurons?
- 30x as numerous as anterior motor neurons
- small and highly excitable
- capable of spontaneous activity
- responsible for most of spinal cord integrative function
Are interneurons capable of spontaneous activity?
Yes
Which cells are responsible for most of the spinal cord integrative functions?
Interneurons
Which fiber type does alpha motor neurons give rise to?
A-alpha fibers
List the different muscle sensors?
- Muscle spindle (group Ia and II afferents)
- Golgi tendon organ (group Ib afferents)
- Pacinian corpuscles (group II afferents)
- Free nerve endings (groups III and IV afferents)
Which muscle sensor detects noxious stimuli?
Free nerve endings (groups III and IV afferents)
Which muscle sensor detects vibration?
Pacinian corpuscles (group II afferents)
Which muscle sensor is arranged in parallel with extrafusal fibers?
Muscle spindle (group Ia and II afferents)
Which muscle sensor is arranged in series with extrafusal fibers?
Golgi tendon organ (group Ib afferents)
Which muscle fiber detects BOTH dynamic and static changes in muscle length?
Muscle spindle (groups Ia and II afferents)
Which muscle sensor detects muscle tension?
Golgi tendon organ (group Ib afferents)
Which nerve fiber types are myelinated and which are not?
- Groups I, II, and III -> myelinated
- Group IV -> non-myelinated
What type of neurons are muscle spindles innervated by?
small gamma motor neurons (group II afferents)