Midterm 5 Flashcards
Neuroanatomy of motor systems Motor and premotor cortex
The pyramidal decussation is considered the dividing point between the _________ and the _______________.
The pyramidal decussation is considered the dividing point between the medulla and the spinal cord.
Axons of upper motor neurons form white matter that descend, ultimately becoming the __________________. Before entering the spinal cord, most fibers (~85%) cross at the _____________________.
Pyramids of the medulla
Pyramidal decussation
Below the pyramidal decussation, the fibers descend to the appropriate level of the spinal cord, enter gray matter and synapse onto dendrites of _______________________ in the anterior (ventral) horn.
Lower motor neurons
Axons of lower motor neurons (somatic motor) form anterior (ventral) roots and join spinal nerves to innervate ____________________.
Skeletal muscle of the body
In the corticospinal pathway, white matter containing the axons of upper motor neurons exits the cerebrum (to enter the brainstem) via the ________________________________.
Posterior limb of the internal capsule
What are the three anatomical positions that the internal capsule is divided into?
Anterior limb
Genu
Posterior limb
The anterior limb of the internal capsule contains the descending axons of upper motor neurons, true or false?
False, the posterior limb contains the descending axons of the upper motor neurons
The internal capsule is surrounded by regions of _____________ deep to the cerebral cortex.
gray matter
At the base of the cerebrum, the corticospinal fibers in the internal capsule travel through the upper part of the brainstem (at the level of the midbrain) via the _____________________. These then connect with the __________________ (clusters of corticospinal fibers within the anterior pons) and then the ___________________.
Crus cerebri
Basis pontis
Pyramids of the medulla
Corticospinal fibers have a characteristic position as they travel through the brainstem.
Corticospinal fibers are in the most _______________ part of the brainstem.
Anterior
The tract in the spinal cord carrying the crossed corticospinal fibers from the pyramidal decussation is called the _____________________ tract.
Lateral corticospinal tract
The lateral corticospinal tract is located within the posterior portion of the _______________________ of spinal cord white matter.
lateral funiculus
The 15% of corticospinal fibers that do not cross at the pyramidal decussation descend in the __________________________ tract (within the ______________________funiculus).
Anterior corticospinal tract (sometimes referred to as medial, it is anterior and medial)
Anterior (ventral) funiculus
In the spinal cord gray matter, anterior horn:
Lateral motor nuclei receive ___________ (what type?) innervation from fibers in the lateral corticospinal tract and innervate muscles of the _______________.
Lateral motor nuclei receive IPSILATERAL (same side) innervation from fibers in the lateral corticospinal tract and innervate muscles of the limbs.
In the spinal cord gray matter, anterior horn:
Medial (anterior) motor nuclei receive mostly ____________(what type?) innervation from the fibers in the anterior corticospinal tract and innervate muscles of the _______________.
Medial (anterior) motor nuclei receive mostly CONTRALATERAL (opposite side) innervation from fibers in the anterior corticospinal tract and innervate muscles of the trunk.
The crossed projections (fibers in the anterior corticospinal tract) travel from one side of the spinal cord to the other (to innervate medial/anterior motor nuclei of the contralateral side) via the _______________________.
Anterior white commissure
The primary motor cortex (pre-central gyrus) show somatotopic organization, the upper motor neurons responsible for motor function of specific body regions are organized systematically along the length of the precentral gyrus, explain where the lower limb, upper limb, neck and head are located.
Lower limb: Medial and superior surface
Upper limb: Lateral and superior surface
Neck and head: Lateral and inferior surface
How do upper motor neurons reach the lower motor neurons that innervate the muscles of the head and neck?
There are projections from upper motor neurons associated with head and neck contained within the corticobulbar tract.
Initially (cerebral white matter) the corticobulbar fibers travel with corticospinal fibers, true or false?
True
The corticobulbar fibers travel through the internal capsule via which section?
The genu of the internal capsule
The corticobulbar fibers travel with corticospinal fibers through the crus cerebri, basis pontis and pyramids of the medulla, true or false?
True
Lower motor neurons innervated by the corticobulbar pathway are motor nuclei associated with certain ______________ nerves.
Cranial nerves
The trigeminal motor nucleus for muscles of mastication is located where?
Midpons
The facial motor nucleus for muscles of facial expression is located where?
Lower pons
The nucleus ambiguus for muscles of the pharynx and larynx is located where?
Medulla
The spinal accessory nucleus is located in the __________________,the corticobulbar fibers that innervate these lower motor neurons descend via the __________________.
Cervical spinal cord, anterior horn
Lateral corticospinal tract
The hypoglossal nucleus for muscles of the tongue is located where?
Medulla
The innervation of cranial nerve motor nuclei( lower motor neurons) by corticobulbar fibers is _______________. What is the exception?
Bilateral
Innervation of neurons in CN VII (facial) motor nuclei
What are the pyramidal tracts?
Corticospinal tract
Corticobulbar tract
What are the extrapyramidal tracts?
Vestibulospinal tract
Reticulospinal tract
Tectospinal tract
Rubrospinal tract
What is an important difference between the pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems (tracts)?
The pyramidal system sub-serves volitional movements, whereas the extrapyramidal systems are automatic (i.e., reflexive), concerned with maintaining balance, posture and some coordination of movement
What is the function of the rubrospinal tract?
Crawling in babies, arm swing while walking in adults
What is the function of the vestibulospinal tract?
Promotes stabilization of the head, maintenance of upright and balanced posture (antigravity muscles in the legs)
What is the function of the reticulospinal tract?
Automatic posture and gait control
What is the function of the tectospinal tract?
Visually-guided head movements
The lateral motor system including the lateral funiculus and muscles of the limbs is associated with which pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts?
Pyramidal = Lateral corticospinal tract
Extrapyramidal = Rubrospinal tract
The medial motor system including the medial funiculus and muscles of the trunk is associated with which pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts?
Pyramidal = anterior/medial corticospinal tract
Extrapyramidal = Vestibulospinal tract, recticulospinal tract, tectospinal tract
There are three cranial nerves (and corresponding nuclei) involved with eye movements, these nuclei do not receive innervation from the corticobulbar tract, what are they and where are they located?
CN III occulomotor nerve = upper midbrain
CN IV trochlear nerve = lower midbrain
CN VI abducens nerve = lower pons
The neurons of the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nuclei are innervated by neurons in the primary motor cortex, true or false?
False, the neurons of the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei are NOT innervated by neurons in the primary motor cortex
Cortical areas (the frontal eye field and the parieto-occipito-temporal area) are cortical regions associated with ______________________.
Volitional eye movements
The cortical areas (frontal eye fields, parieto-occipital-temporal area) associated with volitional eye movements do not directly project to the eye movement nuclei (i.e., CN III, IV and VI) but to subcortical regions that are involved in eye movement control. The subcortical regions involved depend on the direction of _________________.
eye movement
The ___________________________ is the horizontal gaze center with neurons projecting to the _______________________nucleus.
The paramedian pontine reticular formation is the horizontal gaze center with neurons projecting to the abducens (CN VI) nucleus.
In addition to providing innervation of the lateral rectus (abductor) muscle, neurons in the abducens nucleus cross and project (via a tract called the ___________________________) to the oculomotor (CN III) nucleus, the neurons of which innervate the medial rectus (adductor).
medial longitudinal fasciculus
The rostral interstitial nucleus of the medial longitudinal fasciculus and interstitial nucleus of Cajal, both in the midbrain, are __________________ gaze centers.
vertical
The primary motor cortex is not the actual start of volitional motor control, “motor association” areas lie just anterior to the primary motor cortex, what are these areas?
Supplementary motor area
Premotor cortex
The supplementary motor area and premotor cortex are involved in __________________ motor planning and make reciprocal connections with the primary motor cortex.
higher-order motor planning
The output of the motor system is modulated extensively by the ________________ and ________________.
Cerebellum and basal nuclei (ganglia)
The motor cortex can be divided into:
1) _____________
2) _____________
3) _____________
1) Primary motor cortex
2) Premotor cortex
3) Supplementary motor area