NEU531 - Spinal control of movement Flashcards
Describe lower motor neurons and their segmental
organisation.
Describe alpha motor neurons and the inputs to alpha
motor neurons.
Explain the mechanisms that mediate the graded
control of muscle contraction by alpha motor neurons.
Explain the different types of motor units.
Describe the spinal control of motor units.
Explain the
process of proprioception, and the role of the muscle
spindles in this process.
Describe the concept of myotatic reflexes.
Explain the
myotatic reflex mechanism.
Explain the process of generation of spinal motor
programs for walking.
Are lower motor neurons innervating the ventral or dorsal spinal cord areas?
Ventral horn of spinal cord
What are axial muscles associated with?
Trunk movements
What are proximal muscles associated with?
- Shoulders
- Knees
- Elbows
What are distal muscles associated with?
- Hands, feet, fingers, toes
DISTAL = DIGITS
What is a Motor neuron pool:
All the motor neurons that innervate a single muscle
What is a motor unit?
Motor neuron
and all the muscle fibres it
innervates
What are the 3 main ALPHA MOTOR NEURON inputs?
- Muscle spindle sensory input
- Spinal interneurons
- BRAIN: Upper motor neurons
WHAT is the LARGEST input to the ALPHA MOTOR NEURONS?
Interneuron input
E & I neurons
What are red muscle fibres associated with?
- Aerobic
- Mitochondria
- Slow contraction
- Sustain contractions
- Non-fatigueable
What are WHITE muscle fibers associated with?
- Fewer mitochondria
- anaerobic
- contract and fatigue rapidly
- FAST
What are the 2 types of white muscle fibres?
- Fatigue-resistant fast fibers
- fast fatigueable fibres
What are SLOW motor units associated with?
- Slowly fatiguing red fibres
Are red muscle fibres fast or slow?
slow
What neurotransmitter is usually associated with muscle excitation?
Aceytlcholine
