Spinal Reflexes Flashcards
where do the cell bodies of lower motor neurons reside
ventral horn of spinal hord
innervate typical skeletal muscle fibers
alpha motor neurons
smaller: gamma or alpha motor neuron
gamma
innervate the contractile portion of intrafusal fibers of muscle spindles
gamma motor neurons
involve of affect only a single spinal cord level
intrasegmental
they involve or affect numerous spinal cord leels
intersegmental
they are influenced by neurons residing in the cerebral hemisphere or brainstema nd through their connection influence reflex activity occurring at the spinal cord level
suprasegmental
biceps reflex
C5/6
triceps reflex
C6-8
quadriceps reflex “knee jerk”
L2-4
gastrocnemius reflex “ankle jerk”
S1-2
how many neurons in muscle stretch reflex
2 neurons (sensory and motor)
describe quadriceps stretch reflex
displaces patella slightl
stretches extrafusal fibers, and therefore stretch muscle spindles –> fire
signal down their annulospiral neurons to alpha motor neuron to quadricep
how does reciprocal inhibition happen
central process of sensory neuron bifurcates to excite an alpha neuron one way and via an interneuron inhibit a different alpha motor neuron
what does autogenic inhibition limit?
muscle over contraction via activation of GTO