ME03 - Motor System 1 - SC, Cortex, Brainstem Flashcards
Neural pathways that control the sequence and pattern of muscle contractions
Distributed throughout brain and spinal cord
Motor System
What constitutes a MOTOR UNIT?
Consists of a single motor neuron and the muscle fibers that it innervates
For fine control, a single motor neuron innervates only a few muscle fibers. True or False
True, Example: Eye Muscle
For larger movements, a single motor neuron may innervate thousands of muscle fibers. True or False?
True, Example: Postural Muscles/Axial Muscles
Force of muscle contraction is graded by recruitment of additional motor units
Graded Response - Size Principle of Muscle
What principle is applied in “As additional motor units are recruited, more motor neurons are involved and more tension is generated”
Size Principle of Muscle
2 Types of Motor Neurons
Alpha Motor Neurons | Gamma Motor Neurons
o Innervate extrafusal skeletal muscle fibers
o Action potentials in _ motor neurons lead to action potentials in the extrafusal muscle fibers they innervate, which results in contraction
Alpha Motor Neurons
o Innervate specialized intrafusal muscle fibers
o Adjust the sensitivity of the muscle spindles
Gamma Motor Neurons
2 Types of Muscle Fibers
Extafusal Fibers | Intrafusal Fibers
o Make up the bulk of muscle
o Innervated by alpha motor neurons
o Provide the force for muscle contraction
Extrafusal Fibers
o Smaller than extrafusal muscle fibers
o Are innervated by gamma motor neurons
o Encapsulated in sheaths to form muscle spindles
o Are too small to generate significant force
Intrafusal Fibers
Mnemonic for Motor Neuron Fiber
AEGIS (Alpha Motor - Extrafusal | Gamma Motoe - Intrafusal)
Central role in skeletal muscle control
Cell bodies are topographically arranged within the ventral horn of the spinal cord
Axons innervate skeletal muscle fibers
Alpha Motor Neurons
Cell bodies of Alpha Motor Neuron receive numerous synaptic connections from:
o proprioceptors
o higher levels of the CNS including the brainstem, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and motor cortex
Topographic Arrangement of muscles of the trunk
Medial
Topographic Arrangement of muscles of the extremities
Lateral
Topographic Arrangement of limb flexors
Dorsal
Topographic Arrangement of limb extensors
Ventral
Cells responsible for the synapse with the pool of motor neurons when stimulated
Renshaw Cells»_space; predominantly inhibitory
bring about recurrent or feedback inhibition
NTs involved in the muscle contraction
Glycine - inhibitory | Strignin - cause prolonged muscle contraction
What type of synaptic arrangement is exemplified by Renshaw cells?
One to Many
What neurotransmitter is released by Renshaw cells?
Glycine
What type of neuronal circuit is exemplified by Renshaw cells?
Divergent
Sense of awareness of POSITION of the body in space
Proprioception
Proprioception progress of the movement by sensory receptors within the muscles and joints. True or False?
TRUE
Where can proprioceptors be found?
Mechanoreceptors within muscles and joints | Two Major Proprioceptor are (1) Muscle Spindle (2) Golgi Tendon Organ
Function of proprioceptors beside the sense of awareness of position?
Provide the CNS with information regarding muscle length, position and tension (force)
Small, encapsulated intrafusal fibers
Lie in parallel with extrafusal muscle fibers
Muscle Spindle - (STRETCH)
What are the innervations of Muscle Spind (afferent, efferent)
Afferents via group Ia (primary or annulospiral endings) and group II fibers (secondary endings)»_space; respond to muscle stretch
Efferents via gamma motor neurons»_space; regulates sensitivity of the spindles
The finer the movement required, the greater the number of muscle spindles in a muscle. True or False?
TRUE
Where is y-neuron found in intrafusal fibers?
In the belly of the muscle
2 Types of Intrafusal Fibers in Muscle Spindle?
Nuclear Bag Fibers | Nuclear Chain Fibers
o Detect the rate of change in muscle length (fast, dynamic changes)
o Innervated by group Ia afferents
Nuclear Bag Fibers - Have nuclei collected in a central bag region
o Detect static changes in muscle length
o Innervated by group II afferents
o More numerous than nuclear bag fibers
o Have nuclei arranged in rows
Nuclear Chain Fibers
There is very intense period activity of primary endings (Group IA) during the stretch compared to secondary endings. True or False?
True; this is related to the tendency to overstretch “Wear & Tear” of Muscles
Role of Muscle Spindles
Comparators for maintenance of muscle length
Important during goal-directed voluntary movements
o Voluntary changes in muscle length are initiated by motor areas of the brain
o Includes changes to the set-point of the muscle spindle system
Simultaneous activation of extrafusal fibers (by alpha motor neurons) and intrafusal fibers (by gamma motor neurons)
Readjusts the sensitivity of muscle spindles continuously as the muscle shortens
Allows the muscle spindles to be functional at all times during a muscle contraction
C0-ACTIVATION
Alpha-Gamma Coactivation (Stretch Spindle/Intrafusal)
- Alpha motor neuron fires and gamma motor neuron fires.
- Muscle contracts.
- Stretch on centers of intrafusal fibers unchanged. Firing rate of afferent neuron remains constant.
Without Gamma Motor (Alpha-motor only) Neurons
- Alpha motor neuron fires.
- Muscle contracts
- Less stretch on center of intrafusal fibers
- Firing rate of spindle sensory neurons decreases.
Mechanoreceptors that lie within the tendons of muscles immediately beyond their attachments to the muscle fibers
Golgi Tendon Organ - senses tension in the tendon
Golgi Tendon Organ respond to degree of tension within muscles. True or False?
TRUE
Which fibers is responsible to relay this information to the CNS (in particular the spinal cord and cerebellum)
Group Ib afferent fibers
Follow the pathway of GTO from muscle contraction to relaxation
Muscle contracts»_space; INC tension»_space; GTO»_space; CNS»_space; Interneuron»_space; INHIBIT a-motor neurons»_space; Relaxed
Why are Group Ib fibers of GTO have short periods of intense firing?
They have short periods of intense firing since they are series with muscle fibers and well-adapted to monito muscle tension.
Rapidly executed, automatic, and stereotyped response to a given stimulus
Simplest form of irritability associated with the nervous system
Reflex
Components of a Reflex Arc
o Receptor
o Afferent neuron that synapses in the CNS
o Efferent neuron that sends impulses to an effector
o Interneurons may be present between the afferent and efferent neurons
Classify neural reflexes by EFFERENT DIVISION THAT CONTROLS THE EFFECTOR
Somatic Motor Neuron controls skeletal muscles
Autonomic Neurons control smooth and cardiac muscle, glands, and adipose tissue.
Classify neural reflexes by INTEGRATING REGION WITHIN CNS
Spinal Reflexes do not require input from brain
Cranial Reflexes integrated within the brain
Classify neural reflexes by TIME AT WHICH REFLEX DEVELOPS
Innate Reflexes genetically determined
Learned Reflexes acquired through experience
Classify neural reflexes by NO. OF NEURONS IN THE REFLEX PATHWAY
Monosynaptic Reflexes have only 2 neurons (one afferent and one efferent)
Polysynaptic Reflexes include one or more interneurons between afferent and efferent neurons.
Only somatic motor reflexes can be monosynaptic. True or False?
TRUE
All autonomic reflexes are polysynaptic because they have 3 neurons: one afferent and two efferent. True or False?
TRUE
Single synapse between afferent and efferent neurons
Monosynaptic Reflex
Two or more synapses between afferent and efferent neurons
Polysynaptic Reflex
Reflexes that do not need to go to the brain
Spinal Cord Reflexes
Also known as patellar tendon-tap reflex, knee-jerk reflex or Myotactic Reflexes
Stretching of a muscle stimulates the muscle spindle afferents
Plays an important role in the control of posture
Muscle Stretch Reflex
Caused by rapid stretch or unstretch/ RAPID CHANGE IN STRETCH
Transmitted from primary sensory or annulospiral endings of the muscle spindles
Oppose sudden changes in muscle length
Lasts within a fraction of a second only
Dynamic Stretch Reflex (Ia Only)
Elicited by the continuous static receptor signals
Transmitted by both primary and secondary endings
Causes the degree of muscle contraction to remain reasonably constant
Continues for a prolonged period
Static Stretch Reflex (Ia and II)
Muscle spindles prevent oscillation or jerkiness of body movements
Ensure that contraction is relatively smooth, even though the motor nerve to the muscle is excited at a slow frequency
Damping Function of Stretch Reflexes