Other Motor Pathways

Question 1

where does the rubrospinal tract start

Answer 1

red bodies of midbrain

Question 2

where in the spinal cord does the rubrospinal tract synapse

Answer 2

lateral aspect of the ventral horn

Question 3

where does the vestibulospinal tract start

Answer 3

vestibular nuclei in medulla

Question 4

where does reticulospinal tract start

Answer 4

reticular formation in medulla

Question 5

function of rubrospinal tract

Answer 5

involuntarily flexes UE and extends LE when lat corticospinal tract doesnt work

Question 6

function of medial vestibulospinal tract

Answer 6

automatic positioning of the head with changes in posture with respect to gravity

Question 7

function of lateral vestibulospinal tract

Answer 7

automatic changes in body required to keep balance

Question 8

function of reticulospinal tract

Answer 8

automatic changes in posture with gait movements

Question 9

decorticate posturing

Answer 9

flexion of UE and ext of LE

Question 10

which pathway facilitates decorticate posturing

Answer 10

rubrospinal tract

Question 11

what are the three voluntary motor pathways

Answer 11

lateral corticospinal tract
anterior corticospinal tract
corticobulbar tract

Question 12

is MS a disorder of the UMN or LMN

Answer 12

UMN

Question 13

is Lou Gehrig’s disease a disorder of the UMN or LMN

Answer 13

LMN

Question 14

atrophy

Answer 14

shrinkage of muscle due to loss of LMN innervation

Question 15

fasciculation

Answer 15

involuntary muscle contractions (twitches) that are visible, but not strong enough to move a joint

Question 16

what causes fasciculations

Answer 16

damage to LMN

muscle membrane becomes irritable and action potentials occur at random

Question 17

damage to LMN leads to (increase/decrease) in muscle stretch reflex

Answer 17

decrease

Question 18

damage to UMN leads to (increase/decrease) in muscle stretch reflex

Answer 18

increased

Question 19

why is muscle stretch reflex increased with damage to UMN

Answer 19

less UMN inhibition to LMN, therefore LMN closer to threashold

Question 20

positive Babinski’s sign

Answer 20

toes fan out when bottom of foot is scratched

Question 21

what does a positive Babinski’s sign indicate

Answer 21

UMN problem

Question 22

what is tone

Answer 22

resistance felt by an examiner when she moves a patient’s limb through its ROM

Question 23

how is tone determined in body

Answer 23

• balance between excitatory and inhibitory stim to LMN

- state of muscle spindle

Question 24

how is tone measured

Answer 24

examiner initiates an action potential in Ia neuron by passively stretching muscle
-tone is the resistance felt by examiner

Question 25

tone is (increased/decreased) with UMN problems

Answer 25

increased

Question 26

tone is (increased/decreased) in LMN problems

Answer 26

decreased

Question 27

spasticity

Answer 27

weakness with increased tone and increased muscle stretch reflexe
positive Babinski’s sign

Question 28

spasticity is a result of (UMN/LMN) injury

Answer 28

UMN

Question 29

amyotropic lateral sclerosis

Answer 29

destruction of LMN & UMN