Lecture 11- Descending Tracts Flashcards
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Motor system comprises the _________ portion of a neural loop
efferent
Somatomotor signals originate in the ________ cortex of the frontal lobe.
somatomotor (precentral gyrus)
What 5 CNS structures modify motor signals?
- Basal nucleus/thalamus
- Cerebellum
- Reticular formation
- Limbic system
- Red nucleus/substantia nigra
Motor signals move in _______ tracts.
descending
Where are the somatomotor neurons located?
- spinal cord ventral horn gray matter
- brainstem CN nuclei: CN 3, 4, 6; 5, 7; 9, 10; 11, 12
The motor pathway is a __ neuron pathway
2
The ______ motor neurons connect the precentral gyrus to somatomotor neurons and form descending tracts
upper
The _______ motor neurons are in CN nuclei of brainstem or spinal cord/ventral horn and are carried in peripheral nerves.
lower
What are the 2 lower motor neuron types?
- alpha motor neurons
- gamma motor neurons
Alpha motor neurons are ________ diameter myelinated ____ neurons that synapse with _________ muscle fibers to contract whole muscle.
- large
- fast speed
- extrafusal
Gamma motor neurons are ________ diameter myelinated _______ neurons that synapse with __________ (muscle spindle) muscle fibers that keep the muscle spindle sensitive during whole muscle contraction.
- medium
- medium speed
- intrafusal
Lower motor neurons release NT __________ which binds ________ receptors on muscle cell membrane to always depolarize the muscle
- acetylcholine
- nicotinic
Small diameter (slow conducting) ______ motor neurons innervate _____ twitch (red) muscle fibers
- alpha
- slow
Larger diameter (fast conducting) _______ motor neurons innervate ______ twitch (white) muscle fibers
- alpha
- fast
What does Henneman’s size principle state?
Typically slow twitch muscle fibers (small diameter) are activated before fast twitch muscle fibers (large diameter) allowing the 2 types of muscle fibers to contract together
Muscle contractions can be initiated in what 2 ways?
- somatomotor cortex and control centers in brain = VOLUNTARY
- spinal cord/brain stem = REFLEX
Descending tracts have specific somatotopic tracts (homonculus) on the precentral gyrus for what 3 things?
- postural gross movement tracts
- fine movement
- limb flexion
Collateral connections between tracts (motor to motor or motor to sensory) help coordinate movement = _________.
context
What are the 4 functions of collateral connections?
- reciprocal inhibition
- muscle synergism
- proprioception
- stepping pattern generators
What is reciprocal inhibition?
antagonist inhibition during agonist contraction
What is muscle synergism?
coordinated muscle action
What is proprioception?
information of body position in time and space is used to coordinate muscle contraction
What is stepping pattern generators?
alternate flexion/extension of the lower limbs
SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION REVIEW
SKELETAL MUSCLE CONTRACTION REVIEW
What is a motor unit?
a SINGLE somatomotor neuron (axon) and all the muscle fibers it activates
What is a motor neuron pool?
group of motor neuron cell bodies (motor units) in ventral horn that innervate a single muscle.
How are motor neuron pools arranged somatotopically in the ventral horn?
- flexors dorsal
- extensors ventral
- axial muscles medially
- appendicular muscles laterally
REFLEXES
REFLEXES
What is a reflex? Can it occur without brain input?
- predictable response to a given stimulus
- yes, occurs without brain input
Reflexes are _______ dependent, meaning the state of the NS will affect the properties of the reflex ie. signals from the brain influence spinal reflexes.
context
If you are relaxed the reflex response may be ____ intense than if you are anxious.
less
What is the reflex pathway?
- sensor/receptor
- sensory neuron
- INTERNEURON connection in brainstem or spinal cord
- motor neuron
- skeletal muscle
Most skeletal muscle movement is NOT reflex movement, it is _________.
voluntary
Difference between tonic and phasic stretch reflexes?
- phasic- brief response to stimulus
- tonic- responds to stimulus for the duration of stimulus
What is the phasic pathway?
- quick stretch stimulus
- muscle spindle
- Ia sensory neuron (annulospiral bag and chain)
- DRG
- spinal cord dorsal horn (also dorsal column to postcentral gyrus)
- synapses w/ alpha somatomotor neuron
- skeletal muscle
What is a monosynaptic reflex?
Where the sensory neuron synapses directly with motor neuron (no interneuron)
Phasic pathways are _______ and involve a _______ spinal cord level.
- uncrossed
- single
Constant tonic reflexes result from lesion of the brain or spinal cord = ___________ lesion
UMN
tonic sensory neurons type II sensory neuron (_________/_______) signal when the muscle spindle is stretched but these signals are normally prevented from activating somatomotor neurons by upper motor neuron inhibition; UMN lesion removes the inhibition and allows the constant afferent signal to produce a constant efferent signal = ________________
- flowerspray/chain
- tonic reflex contraction
Cutaneous reflexes are more complex and involve _________ (minimum __ neuron pathway)
- interneurons
- 3
What is the golgi tendon reflex pathway?
- increased tendon stretch
- golgi tendon organ
- Type Ib afferent
- spinal cord INHIBITORY interneuron
- inhibit alpha motor neuron to homolgous muscle
- muscle w/ stretched tendon relaxes