Spinal Motor Circuits Flashcards
What are the 4 main neural circuits controlling vertebrate movement?
Higher control circuits
Brainstem-spinal cord circuits
Spinal cord circuits
Spino-muscular circuits
What is the role of higher control circuits and where do they receive inputs from?
Intention and movement selection
Visual inputs
What is the role of brainstem-spinal cord circuits and where do they receive inputs from?
Integrate inputs - generate command
Auditory, limb sensory afferent inputs
What is the role of spinal cord circuits and where do they receive inputs from?
Organise commands
Limb sensory afferent inputs
What is the role of spino-muscular circuits and where do they receive inputs from?
Effectors
Limb sensory afferent inputs - affect this input
Where is there a large proportion of white matter in the spinal cord?
Upper cervical region
Where is there a small proportion of white matter in the spinal cord?
Sacral region
What was Sherrington’s theory of locomotion?
Locomotion controlled by sequence of reflexes
What was Brown’s theory of locomotion?
Locomotion controlled by CPGs in spinal cord - not reflexes
What is the current view of locomotion?
Sherrington reflex control vs Brown central control is false dichotomy
Spinal cord can produce rhythm and pattern of locomotion
But sensory inputs required for normal locomotion
Define a motor unit
Motor neuron and muscle fibres it innervates
What are the 3 muscle fibre types?
Slow twitch
Intermediate
Fast twitch
What are the characteristics of slow twitch muscle fibres?
Many mitochondria
Weak, slow, sustained contraction
Slow MN
What are the characteristics of intermediate muscle fibres?
Fast-resistant MN
Intermediate properties
What are the characteristics of fast twitch muscle fibres?
Few mitochondria
Powerful, fast, brief contraction
Fast-fatiguable MN