Spinal reflexes, upper motor neurones and control of movement Flashcards
What do spinal interneurons receive input from?
Primary sensory axons
Descending axons from the brain
Collateral LMNs
Other interneurons
What are the different types of input that can be given to a spinal interneurons?
Excitatory
Inhibitory
What do inhibitory interneurons mediate?
Inverse myotatic response
Reciprocal inhibition
What is reciprocal inhibition?
Reflex results in contraction of extensor muscle whilst simultaneously relaxing the antagonist flexor muscle
Describe the pathway for reciprocal inhibtion
1a afferent from muscle spindle extensor makes an excitatory monosynaptic contact with alpha motor neuron innervating the homonymous muscle
Via polysynaptic pathway involving an inhibitory interneuron, the 1a fibre also inhibits the alpha motor neurone supplying the flexor muscle
What will excitatory interneurons mediate?
Flexor reflex
Crossed extensor reflex
What is the flexor reflex?
Noxious stimulus causes the limb to flex by:
Contraction of flexor muscles via excitatory interneurons
Relaxation of extensor muscle via excitatory and inhibitor internueons
What is the crossed extensor reflex?
Noxious stimulus causes the limb to extend via:
Contraction of extensor muscles via excitatory interneurons
Relaxation of flexor muscles via excitatory and inhibitory interneurons
What does the crossed extensor reflex enhance?
Postural support during withdrawal of a foot from a painful stimulus
What are the descending spinal tracts concerned with?
Control of movement Muscle tone Spinal reflexes Spinal autonomic functions Modulation of sensory transmission
Describe the lateral descending pathways
Under control from the cerebral cortex
Important for voluntary control of distal musculature
Describe the ventromedial pathways
Under control from brain stem
Important for posture and locomotion
Which pathways make up the lateral pathways?
Lateral corticospinal
Rubrospinal
Which pathways makeup the ventromedial pathways?
Pontine reticulospinal Medullary reticulospinal Lateral vestibulospinal tract Tectospinal tract Ventral corticospinal tract
Where do axons in the corticospinal tract decussate?
85% at medullary pyramids to form the lateral corticospinal tract
Remainder stay ipsilateral to form the ventral corticospinal tract to decussate more caudally