Neuroanatomy: Motor Systems Flashcards
Which parts of the CNS are involved in motor behaviors?
Involves entire CNS, brain, brain stem, and spinal cord
What are the differences between somatic and visceral motor neurons?
Somatic carries signals to skeletal muscle, the visceral carries signals to glands, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle.
Where are the somatic and visceral motor neurons?
Visceral motor neurons are located in intermediolateral cell column. Somatic are located in Ventral horn
Where are the upper motor neurons?
located in precentral gyrus
Describe the path of the upper motor neuron axons.
activated by decision to move in precentral gyrus. Goes to internal capsule(anterior limb), then crus cerebri, the pons, then pyramids (medulla oblongata), then pyramidal decussation (defines border between brain stem and spinal cord), then corticospinal tracts, then muscle
Where do the upper motor neurons synapse?
Where are the lower motor neurons?
What is the path of the lower motor neuron axons?
Where do the lower motor neurons synapse?
What are the components of the basal ganglia?
Includes the caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and subthalamic nucleus
With what larger parts of the brain are the basal ganglia associated?
striatum, pallidum, brain stem, diencephalon
Where are the basal ganglia in the brain
In the medial section of the brain
What is the BASIC circuitry of the basal nuclei
Goes from thalamus up to motor cortex to striatum
What is the difference between the direct and indirect pathways with regard to function?
Direct pathways facilitate appropriate motor programs whereas indirect pathways inhibit competing/unwanted motor programs
What are basal ganglia
a group of neurons with the CNS that function together with common targets, input, and neurotransmitters. Are responsible for muscle memory
Describe the Gross anatomy of the cerebellum
there are 2 cerebellar hemispheres; each hemisphere is split into 2 lobes, the anterior and posterior, and they are separated by the primary fissure. Also include folia and vermis which are similar to gyri and sulci respectively
What are cerebellar peduncles
They are large fiber tracts that are attached to the brain stem
How many peduncles are there and what fibers travel in each
there are 3 peduncles; the superior cerebellar (main outflow, project to motor cortex), middle cerebellar (fibers enter from the pons), and inferior cerebellar (fibers enter from the medulla and spinal cord)
How many layers are in the cerebellar cortex and what are their names
There are 3 layers; the molecular layer, purkinje cell layer, and granule cell layer
What type of cells are in each layer of the cerebellar cortex
Where does information go when it leaves the cerebellar cortex
It goes to the motor cortex
What is the area of the cerebellum that sends efferent information to the motor cortex?
Superior peduncle
