motor function

Question 1

what regions are lower motor neuron

Answer 1

motor neurones in ventral horn of spinal cord and bulbar in brainstem

Question 2

what regions are upper motor neuron

Answer 2

corticospinal, corticobulbar

Question 3

what regions are pyramidal

Answer 3

lateral corticospinal tract

Question 4

what regions are extrapyramidal

Answer 4

basal ganglia, cerebellum

Question 5

what are negative signs associated with

Answer 5

loss of function

Question 6

2 negative signs of an upper motor neurone lesion

Answer 6

paresis, paralysis (plegia)

Question 7

what is paresis

Answer 7

graded weakness of movements

Question 8

what is paralysis (plegia)

Answer 8

complete loss of muscle activity

Question 9

what are positive signs associated with, and what causes them

Answer 9

increased abnormal motor function due to loss of inhibitory descending inputs

Question 10

3 positive signs of an upper motor neurone lesion

Answer 10

spasticity, hyper-reflexia, clonus

Question 11

what is spasticity

Answer 11

increased muscle tone

Question 12

what is hyper-reflexia

Answer 12

exaggerated reflexes

Question 13

what is clonus

Answer 13

abnormal oscillatory muscle contraction

Question 14

what is Babinski’s sign

Answer 14

movement of toes after stimulation of base of foot (distinctive change in normal reflex)

Question 15

what is the name given to a disorder of skilled movement

Answer 15

apraxia (mainly damage to parietal cortex)

Question 16

features of patients with apraxia

Answer 16

not paretic but have lost information about how to perform skilled functions e.g. dressing

Question 17

causes of apraxia related to upper motor neurone lesion

Answer 17

any disease or lesion of inferior parietal lobe, or of frontal lobe (premotor cortex, supplementary motor area)

Question 18

what are the 2 most common causes of apraxia

Answer 18

stroke and dementia

Question 19

6 features of a lower motor neurone lesion

Answer 19

weakness, hypotonia (reduced muscle tone), hyporeflexia (reduced reflexes), muscle atrophy, fasciculations, fibrillations

Question 20

what are fasciculations

Answer 20

where damaged motor units produce spontaneous action potentials, resulting in a visible, uncontrolled twitch

Question 21

what are fibrillations and when are they recorded

Answer 21

spontaneous twitching of individual muscle fibres; recorded during needle electromyography examination