Motor Control Flashcards
What are the two types of major descending tracts?
-Pyramidal tracts
-Extra pyramidal tracts
What do the pyramidal tracts pass through?
The pyramids of the medulla
What are the two main pyramidal tracts.
-Corticospinal
-Corticobulbar
What are the pyramidal tracts involved in.
Voluntary movements of the body and face.
What are the 4 main extra pyramidal tracts.
-Vestibulospinal
-Tectospinal
-Reticulospinal
-Rubrospinal
What are the extra pyramidal tracts involved in.
involuntary (automatic) movements for balance, posture and locomotion
Which tracts do not pass through the pyramids of the medulla.
Extra pyramidal tracts:
-Vestibulospinal
-Tectospinal
-Reticulospinal
-Rubrospinal
What is the vestibulospinal tracts involved in.
To maintain head and eye coordination, upright posture and balance.
What is the tectospinal tracts involved in. + origin
From superior colliculus of midbrain.
Orientation of the head and neck during eye movements
What is the reticulospinal tracts involved in and where does it originate from?
- Most primitive descending tract- from medulla and pons
- Changes in muscle tone associated with voluntary movements
- postural stability
What is the rubrospinal tracts involved in and where does it originate from?
- From red nucleus of midbrain
- In humans mainly taken over by corticospinal tract
- Innervate lower motor neurones of flexors of upper limb
Where is the primary motor cortex located.
In the precentral gyrus, anterior to the central sulcus.
Where is the premotor area located.
Anterior to the primary motor cortex.
Where is the supplementary motor area located.
Located anterior and medial to primary motor cortex.
Where does the corticospinal tract decussate.
In the medulla.
What muscle groups does the lateral corticospinal tract innervate.
Limb muscles
What muscles groups does the anterior corticospinal tract innervate.
Trunk muscles.
What are three negative signs of an upper motor neuron lesion.
-Loss of voluntary motor function
-Paresis: graded weakness of movements
-Paralysis (plegia): complete loss of voluntary muscle activity
What are three positive signs of an upper motor neuron lesion.
-Increased abnormal motor function due to loss of inhibitory descending inputs
-Spasticity: increased muscle tone
-Hyper-reflexia: exaggerated reflexes
-Clonus: abnormal oscillatory muscle contraction
-Babinski’s sign
how is apraxia best described?
A disorder of skilled movement.