Motor Control Flashcards
Control of complex movements involve what brain areas?
- Cerebral cortex
- Basal Ganglia
- Cerebellum
- Thalamus
- Brain stem
- Spinal cord
What type of arrangement does the primary motor cortex have? What happens when it is stimulated?
- Somatotopic arrangement
- Excitation stimulates movements instead of contracting a single muscle
What Broadman area is the primary motor cortex involved with?
Broadman area 4 (precentral gyrus)
This area is anterior to the lateral portions of the primary motor cortex below the supplemental area and projects to the primary motor cortex and basal ganglia.
Premotor area
This area is superior to the premotor area lying mainly in the longitudinal fissure and functions in concert with the premotor area to provide attitudinal and fixation movements, positional movements of the head and eyes, and background for finer motor control of arms/hands.
Supplemental motor area
Where does the corticospinal tract originate?
- 30% from the primary motor cortex
- 30% from the premotor and supplemental areas
- 40% from the somatic sensory areas
This tract descends via the posterior limb of the internal capsule and forms the pyramids of the medulla
Corticospinal tract
- Most fibers cross midline and form the lateral corticospinal tract
- Some fibers stay ipsilateral and form the ventral corticospinal tract
This transection involves all tracts being cut and the cord being completely isolated from the brain.
Spinal preparation
This is a transection at the mid collicular level.
Decerebrate preparation
This transection involves the destruction of the cerebral cortex.
Decorticate preparation
What does a spinal preparation result in?
Flaccidity (flaccid or floppy paralysis)
What does a decerebrate preparation result in?
Extensors are tonically hyperactive resulting in “decerebrate rigidity”
What does a decorticate preparation result in?
This creates a different type of rigidity, clinically known as “decorticate spasticity” due to tonic excitation from upper areas of the reticular formation no longer under inhibitory cortical influence (release phenomenon).
This is an experimental procedure that is useful for the study of reflexes. A transection of the midbrain is often at the intercollicular level and motor control is profoundly altered (flexion suppressed/extension is exaggerated).
Decerebration (leads to decerebrate rigidity)
Spinal shock is characterized by what?
- Dramatic fall in arterial blood pressure
- All skeletal muscle reflexes integrated in the cord are blocked
- Sacral reflexes for control of bladder and colon evacuation are suppressed
These reticular nuclei:
- transmit excitatory signals via the pontine reticulospinal tract
- stimulate the axial trunk and extensor muscles that support the body against gravity
- receive stimulation from vestibular nuclei and deep nuclei of the cerebellum,
- have a high degree of natural excitability.
Pontine reticular nuclei
These reticular nuclei:
- transmit inhibitory signals to antigravity muscles via the medullary (lateral) reticulospinal tract
- receive strong input from the cortex, red nucleus, and other motor pathways
- counterbalance excitatory signals from the pontine reticular nuclei
- allows tone to be increased or decreased depending on function needing to be performed.
Medullary reticular nuclei
What are the five important tracts that descend form the brain to the spinal cord?
- Ventral/lateral corticospinal
- Reticulospinal
- Vestibulospinal
- Rubrospinal
- Tectospinal
Out of the five descending pathways to the spinal cord, which are ipsilateral and which are contralateral?
Ipsilateral:
- Ventral corticospinal tract
- Reticulospinal
- Vestibulospinal
Contralateral:
- Lateral corticospinal tract
- Rubrospinal
- Tectospinal
Out of the five descending pathways to the spinal cord, which are part of the lateral motor system of the cord and control more distal muscles of limbs.
- Lateral corticospinal tracts
- Rubrospinal tracts
Out of the five descending pathways to the spinal cord, which are part of the medial motor system of the cord and control mainly the axial and girdle muscles.
- Reticulopsinal
- Vestibulospinal
- Tectospinal
- Anterior corticospinal
What type of arrangement does the primary motor cortex have?
Vertical columnar arrangement which functions as an integrative processing system
Within the primary motor cortex pyramidal cells have what two types of output signals?
Dynamic (initiates contraction) and static (maintain contraction)
What is the pathway in the planning and program phase of voluntary movement?
Signals for movement originate in the sensory association cortex and output to premotor cortex directly and indirectly via the basal ganglia and cerebrocerebellum
What is the pathway in the execution phase of voluntary movement?
- Premotor cortex–>primary motor cortex (PMC)–>spinal cord (corticospinal projections)
- PMC—>spinocerebellum
- Feedback from periphery–>spinocerebellum–>PMC
These maintain the body in an up-right balanced position and provide constant adjustments necessary to maintain stable postural background for voluntary movement.
Postural reflexes
Adjustments to posture include what two types of reflexes?
- Static reflexes (sustained contraction
- Dynamic short term phasic reflexes (transient movements)
Postural reflexes are caused by changes in excitability of ____ neurons and changes in rate of discharge in the ____ neurons to muscle spindles.
Motor; gamma efferent
What are the three types of postural reflexes?
- Vestibular reflexes
- Tonic neck reflexes
- Righting reflexes
This is the organ that detects sensations of equilibrium, provides information about position and movement of head in space, and helps maintain body balance and helps coordinate movements.
Vestibular apparatus
The vestibular apparatus consists of what structures? Where is is located?
- It consists of the semicircular canals, utricle, and saccule
- It is embedded in the petrous portion of the temporal bone
This is the sensory area of the utricle and saccule and is covered with a gelatinous layer in which many small CaCO3 crystals are embedded.
Macula
What does the macula of the utricle and saccule detect?
- Orientation of the head with respect to gravity
- Linear acceleration
Which plane does the macula of the utricle lie? What is its role?
- It lies mainly in the horizontal plane
- It plays an important role in determining orientation of the head when a person is upright
Which plane does the saccule lie? What is its role?
- It lies mainly in the verticle plane
- It plays an important role in determining orientation of the head when a person is lying down
This is the sensory organ of rotation located in the semicircular canals of the inner ear.
Crista ampullaris
This is the loose gelatinous tissue mass on top of the crista ampullaris,
Cupula
There are three pairs of semicircular canals at 90 degrees to one another. What planes are they located in?
Anterior, horizontal, and posterior
- Right anterior with left posterior
- Right and left horizontal
- Left anterior with right posterior
What fluid are the semicircular canals with?
Endolymph
What do the semicircular canals detect?
Rotational acceleration and deceleration
What occurrences is stimulation of the semicircular canals associated with?
Increased extensor tone and nystagmus
What are the two components of nystagmus?
- Slow component (tracking): can be initiated by semicircular canals
- Fast component (jump ahead to a new focal spot): initiated by the brain stem nuclei
What brain structure do the semicircular canals work closely with?
Cerebellum, especially the flocculonodular lobe
This condition is characterized by a sudden sensation of spinning, usually when moving the head.
Vertigo