Motor Neurons Flashcards
1
Q
Describe UMN
-
A
- Motor tracts
- cell bodies in CNS
- target/synapse in CNS
- connect with LMN
2
Q
Describe LMN
A
- cell bodies in CNS/Spinal cord
- target periphery
3
Q
Describe what occurs when we decide to move
A
- Frontal lobe makes decision to move
- motor planning areas activated
- control circuits (basal ganglia/cerebellum) regulate activity of UMN
- UMN tracts deliver signals to interneurons and LMNs
- LMNs signal skeletal muscle
4
Q
Where are the cell bodies of the LMN located
A
- ventral horn
- their axons leave the spinal cord via the ventral horn
5
Q
Classification of UMNs (motor tracts)
A
- postural/gross motor tracts: control automatic skeletal muscle activity
- fine movement tracts: fractionated movements of limbs and face
- nonspecific tracts: facilitate all other motor neurons
6
Q
Multipolar neuron
describe look
A
- cell bod with many dendrites
- axon with multiple collaterals
7
Q
Types of LMN
A
- alpha motor neurons
- gamma motor neurons
8
Q
Alpha motor neurons
A
- synpase with extrafusal muscle
- innervate skeletal muscle
- when we test when we do MMT
9
Q
Gamma Motor neuron
A
- medium myelination
- synpase with intrafusal muscle fibers in the mucsle spindle
- responsble for volume control of a muscle (reflex)
- excited by the brainstem
10
Q
muscle tone imbalance
is caused by?
A
is caused by an imbalance between alpha and gamma activation
11
Q
What is the path of a lower motor neuron
A
- Axons leave spinal cord via ventral root
- Travel through the spinal nerve
- Travel through peripheral nerve
- Skeletal muscle
12
Q
Coactivation
alpha-gamma
A
- stretch on central region of the muscle is maintained while the extrafusal fibers contract
- Alpha-gamma coactivation
13
Q
what does alpha motor neuron synapse with
A
- synpases with extrafusal muscle
- extrafusal muscle is responsible for muscle action
14
Q
What does gamma motor neurons synpase with
A
- muscle spindle/intrafusal muscle fibers
- montiors and controls muscle length
15
Q
What is a motor unit
A
- alpha motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates
- when an alpha motor neuron ia activated ACh is released at all the neuromuscular junctions and all muscle fibers that are innervated by the neuron contract
16
Q
Slow twitch muscle fibers
A
- twitch-innervated by smaller diameter,
- slower conducting alpha motor neurons
- postural muscles/slower contracting muscles (Ex: soleus tonically active in standing, physically active with walking)