Pyramidal System

Question 1

Whta do projection fibres (UMNs) connect

Answer 1

Cortices to other brain structures and spinal cord

Question 2

What are Pyramidal tracts

Answer 2

Sub-population of UMNs that produce movement

Question 3

Where do pyramidal tracts originate and where do they go

Answer 3

Originate in primary motor cortex and converge to first form the internal capsule before continuing on through the midbrain (cerebral peduncles which are Mickey’s ears), brain stem and spinal cord

Question 4

What does the Internal capsule separate

Answer 4

Caudate nucleus

Putamen

Question 5

What does the Internal capsule contain

Answer 5

Association fibres
Pyramidal tracts
Regulates movement

Question 6

What makes up the pyramidal tracts

Answer 6

Corticobulbar and Corticospinal tracts

Question 7

Where do the pyramidal tracts originate

Answer 7

Layer V of the primary motor cortex

Question 8

Where does the COrticobulbar tract pass through an then terminate

Answer 8

Passes through cerebral peduncles

Terminates in brain stem

Question 9

What movement does the corticobulbar tract produce

Answer 9

Head, neck and face

Question 10

What is the course of the corticospinal tract

Answer 10

pass through cerebral peduncles
Then medulla

Lateral- crosses over
Ventral-remains on sane side

Go to spinal cord and synapse with lower motor neurons

Question 11

What is Dorsal horn of spinal cord usually associated with

Answer 11

ascending sensory systems

Question 12

What is the Ventral horn of the spinal cord usually associated with

Answer 12

descending motor systems

Question 13

Where are the areas of the spinal cord which control muscles of the limbs and digits

Answer 13

More laterally

Question 14

where are areas of the spinal cord which control muscles near the trunk

Answer 14

More medially

Question 15

Symptoms of UMN damage

Answer 15

Muscle weakness and/or stiffness

Increased muscle tone (hypertonia)

Exaggerated stretch reflexes and clonus (involuntary contractions), or spasticity

Question 16

symptoms of LMN damage

Answer 16

Muscle weakness

decreased muscle tone

Inhibited stretch reflexes and spontaneous firing that cause individual muscle fibre contractions and potentially switching

Question 17

What is Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Answer 17

Degeneration of UMNs and LMNs

Question 18

What is Primary lateral sclerosis

Answer 18

slow degeneration of corticospinal tract

begins as weakness and stiffness of the legs that causes balance and walking problems

Question 19

What is Pseudobulbar palsy

Answer 19

Degeneration of the corticobulbar tract.

Facial paralysis, including the tongue, persistent dribbling or difficulty with speaking, chewing and swallowing

Question 20

What is Progressive muscular atrophy

Answer 20

Degeneration of the LMNs

Begins as weakness and stiffness of the hands that spreads to the lower body and muscles lose tone

Question 21

What is Multiple sclerosis

Answer 21

Autoimmune disease that attacks the myelin and can produce symptoms of UMN and LMN syndromes

Question 22

Symptoms of MS

Answer 22

tingling in legs
Fatigue
Balance
Coordination problems
Blurred vision
Difficutiess speaking or swallowing

Question 23

What do the fibres of the corticobulbar tract synapse with

Answer 23

some cranial nerves in the brainstem

Question 24

What do the fibres in the cortiospinal tract synapse with

Answer 24

They cross over to the other side of the body and synapse with the LMNs that innervate muscles