Section 3 Lecture 2 Flashcards
Over-learned, over practiced skills:
race car driving, etc. Actually reaction time, voluntary, learned movement in response to a stimulus
Circuitry already present in the development of the system:
reflex
T or F? Reflex strength (gain) can be modulated.
T. by descending pwys (stronger, weaker, or totally suppressed)
T or F? Some reflexes require input from the cortex
T
Reflexes are mediated by:
s.c., brainstem, and cortex
The reflex strength or gain may be modulated by:
PWs from brainstem or cortex (stronger, weaker, or totally suppressed)
Where does the circuitry for movements reside in humans?
in the s.c.
T or F? Transection leads to the loss of conscious sensation from below the cut, the ability to generate voluntary movement below the cut, and reflexes below the cut
F. Still have spinal reflexes, true to the first 2
Even after s.c transection you still have:
spinal reflexes (mm., MNs, S input from the body, and spinal interneurons
Which is the simplest of the reflexes?
The stretch reflex
What is the stimulus for the stretch reflex?
stretch of a m.
Stretch response leads to contraction of:
the same m.
How is the stretch reflex clinically tested?
by tapping on a tendon, which mechanically stretches the m.
In the deep tendon reflex, does the tendon participate in the generation of the force for movement?
No
Clinical name of the stretch reflex:
deep tendon reflex
The stretch reflex demonstrates what principle about mm.?
The m. works to keep the m. length constant
Pwy of the stretch reflex circuit:
Afferent from 1a m.s. into the s.c., excitatory synapse on a-MN whose axon goes back to the same m. monosynaptic,very short-latency reflex
Does the 1a fiber in the stretch reflex make an excitatory or inhibitory synapse on the a-MN?
Excitatory
Resistance to passive stretch of a m.:
muscle tone
Test m. tone:
passively stretch the extensor (passive: because it comes from the outside, not voluntary movement, there is some resistance to that)
What does the stretch reflex resist?
Passive stretch of a muscle
the circuitry in the stretch reflex:
the 1a fiber branches, 1 brach to sp. interneuron which inhibits MNs going to the antagonist m., another to the agonist to flex m. to maintain the same m. length
As one m. contracts, the antagonist m. relaxes. This is called:
reciprocal innervation
Explain the involvement of the cortex and BG in the stretch reflex:
Cortex or BG have no involvement, at the level of the s.c .only
Flexion-crossed extension reflex:
Hand down on hot surface, flexion of all flexors in every joint of the limb and simultaneous relaxation of the extensors, stimulus can be over only a few mm^2 of skin
transection pt:
won’t feel stimulus but the reflex occurs
How does info in the flexion-crossed extension pwy get to the brain?
It doesn’t, stays in s.c.
Purpose of crossed extension reflex:
To stabilize the uninjured side of the body
T or F? The Flexion crossed extension reflex involves 1 interneuron.
F. many
What type of innervation is involved in the flexion-crossed extension reflex?
double reciprocal innervation
Where are PGs in the human body?
s.c. and brainstem: ie. chewing and swallowing
T or F? The PGs of the s.c. function completely independent of the brain.
F. Brain turns and off and modulates
Reflex that involves mm. + s.c. + some nuclei in the brainstem:
the tonic neck reflexes
tonic neck reflexes:
pos of head coded by proprioceptors in the neck (via CN, not s.c.), position of head, determines the position of the limbs
T or F? The position of the head in the tonic neck reflex is determined by the s.c.
F. via CN (sending info regarding neck position, right?)
Where do the nuclei reside that are involved in the tonic neck reflex?
The brainstem
What determines the positon of the head in the tonic neck reflex?
proprioception in the neck
Response of the fore- and hindlimbs when looking up:
Fore: extend, hind: flex
Repsonse of the fore- and hindlimbs when looking down:
Fore: flex, hind: extend
Pose of a baby while laying on back with one arm outstretched and the other flexed:
fencer’s pose