Motor systems and controls Flashcards
What is motor control?
the ability to make dynamic postural adjustments and direct body and limb movement in purposeful activity
What components are necessary for motor control?
- Normal muscle tone
- Normal postural tone and postural mechanisms
- Selective movement
- Co-ordination
What affects motor control?
Neurological insults (stroke, TBI, Parkinsons, MS)
What are the 3 functions of the motor system?
- Controls a complex neuromuscular network
- Sends movement commands to muscles and joints that must be stabilised.
- Movement whether voluntary or involuntary or reflexive is achieved by contraction of skeletal muscles
What makes up the Motor System?
- Cortical and subcortical areas of grey matter
- Grey matter of the spinal cord
- Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia
- Direct pathways nerve tracts
- Indirect pathways nerve tracts
- Efferent nerves
What are the properties of neurons?
Excitation - generate impulses in response to stimulation and conduction of impulses between neurons.
What are the properties of neural networks?
Processing of activity directed to a particular end and relay of output of processing to other centres in the nervous system.
What are the 3 neurones?
- Motor neurons
- Sensory neurons
- Interneurons
Are motor neurons efferent or afferent?
efferent (send message away)
Are sensory neurons efferent or afferent?
afferent (send message towards)
What are interneurons?
Neurons that transmit impulses between other neurons
What are the 3 levels of hierarchy of motor control?
- Cerebral cortex
- Brain stem
- Spinal cord
What is the function of the cerebral cortex?
Externally guided movements eg. picking up objects, using tools, moving eyes to explore faces, making gestures
What are the 3 major areas of the frontal lobe?
- Primary motor cortex - major control region for initiation of voluntary movements
- Premotor cortex
- Supplementary motor cortex
What does the brain stem consist of?
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Medulla Oblongata
What is the function of the brain stem?
- Axons project and regulate the segmental networks of the spinal cord
- Controls posture and stabilisation of muscles during movement
- Integrates visual and vestibular information with somatosensory input to modify movements initiated by the cortex.
What is the function of the spinal cord?
neurons mediate automatic reflexes eg. stretching
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Projects to both brainstem and thalamus and improves accuracy of movement
What is the function of the basal ganglia?
Receives inputs from all cortical areas. Projects to thalamus and then to areas of the cortex involved in motor planning