Neuromuscular Diseases Flashcards
What is a neuromuscular disease?
disorder that adversely affects muscle function, either primarily or via nerve or NMJ abnormalities
What is an upper motor neuron?
motor pathway completely contained within the CNS.
Begins in the cerebral cortex and ends in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.
Where does an upper motor neuron begin?
cerebral cortex
Where does an upper motor neuron end?
ventral horn of the spinal cord
What are the primary roles of upper motor neurons?
Directing, influencing, & modifying:
- reflex arcs
- lower-level control centers
- motor neurons
some sensory
Where do upper motor neurons [generally] form synapses?
with interneurons
[which form synapses with lower motor neurons before projecting to the periphery
What does the corticospinal tract supply?
the voluntary muscles of the trunk & extremities
Where does the corticospinal tract begin?
precentral gyrus
What 3 structures does the corticospinal tract go through?
- internal capsule
- midbrain
- pons
What are the 2 structures formed from the beginning of the corticospinal tract?
- lateral corticospinal tract
2. ventral corticospinal tract
What is the lateral corticospinal tract?
75-90%
tract that crosses (decussates) in the medulla;
at each level some fibers leave the tract & enter the ventral horn grey matter to form synapses with lower motor neurons
What is the ventral corticospinal tract?
10-25%
tract that does NOT cross (decussate) in the medulla;
Fibers make a SMALL cross over before synapsing with lower motor neurons
What is the corticobulbar tract?
follows the corticospinal tract until the brainstem, then innervates the cranial nerves (motor) [CN 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 bilaterally]
[CN 7, 12 unilaterally- this is why strokes have facial droop or tongue “droop]
- CN 7 innervates the “upper” face bilaterally, the “lower” face unilaterally = mouth droop”)
supplies the voluntary muscles of the head & is involved in precise motor movements
originates in the precentral gyrus, next to the lateral fissure of Sylvius
What CN does the corticobulbar tract innervate?
cranial nerves (motor) [CN 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 bilaterally]
cranial nerves 7, 12 unilaterally- this is why strokes have facial droop or tongue “droop”]
- CN 7 innervates the “upper” face bilaterally, the “lower” face unilaterally = mouth droop)
Where does the corticobulbar tract originate?
precentral gyrus, next to the lateral fissure of Sylvius
Where are lower motor neurons located?
in the brainstem or spinal cord
What are lower motor neurons responsible for?
direct influence on muscles
Where do axons of the lower motor neurons go?
through nerves in the PNS to synapse on and control skeletal muscle cells
What do lower motor neurons that PASS THROUGH THE SPINAL NERVES control [primarily]?
muscles of the limbs and the trunk
What do lower motor neurons that PASS THROUGH CRANIAL NERVES control [primarily]?
skeletal muscles of the head & neck
What does damage to lower motor neurons lead to?
paralysis [unless nerve re-generation occurs]
What breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft?
the enzyme acetylcholinesterase
What happens to the components of acetylcholine after it is broken down?
taken back up into the presynaptic cell for resynthesis
What is recycled in the NMJ after an AP?
acetylcholine & vesicles