Motor Control Flashcards
Define voluntary motor control
Either Goal Directed (Conscious) or Habitual (Unconscious/automatic)
What are examples of involuntary motor control?
Eye movements, facial expressions, posture, diaphragm etc.
What neurones innervate muscle fibres?
Alpha motor neurones
What is a motor unit?
Single alpha motor neurone and all the muscle fibres it innervates
Do the finger tips have lots or few muscle fibres
Few, so can have greater movement resolution
Does the function of muscle affect how many muscle fibres?
Yes, e.g. finger tips have few muscle fibres as need greater movement resolution
What are spinal reflexes?
Involuntary, physiological responses to stimuli
Unlearned and instinctive (Unconditioned) responses
Which neurones innervate muscle spindles and what are spindles made of?
Gamma Motor Neurones Intrafusal fibres (Embedded in muscle which are extrafusal)
What is the difference in function between muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs?
Spindle: Detects how much each muscle is stretched
Golgi: Detects tension of muscle
Which nerve fibres innervate golgi tendons and what is their response for tension change?
Innervate: Afferent type 1b sensory nerve (inhibitory)
Response: Inhibit alpha motor neurones to prevent muscle contraction if force becomes too great
What is a UMN?
Neurone located entirely in CNS, cell body found in the PMC
What is a LMN?
Neurone carries signal to effectors
Cell body located in brainstem or SC
What is a Motor Pool?
All of the muscle fibres which innervate a single muscle
