The Neurobiology of animal movement

Question 1

Why do animals move ?

Answer 1

To provide for basic needs and to interact with other species and its own kind.

Question 2

In general terms what can the action of the skeletal motor system be considered as under a heading ?

Answer 2

Locomotion, grasping/manipulation and communication

Question 3

How do muscles move the skeleton ?

Answer 3

By contracting

Question 4

What is the biceps and triceps referred to as ?

Answer 4

antagonistic pair

Question 5

Whats the final functional element controlling action ?

Answer 5

Motor nerves run from the spinal cord to the muscles - they are the final functional element controlling action

Question 6

What enlargements are there for the nerves innervating the arms and legs ?

Answer 6

There are cervical and lumbar enlargements for the nerves innervating the arms and legs

Question 7

What is the neuromuscular junction ?

Answer 7

Is a specialised synapse transferring electric signals from the central nervous system to the muscles that move all elements of the body. whether it is the muscles controlling the movement of the eye, those of speech, or of whole body movements

Question 8

Where does the Neuromuscular junction sit ?

Answer 8

In a pit on the surface of the muscle cell

Question 9

Whats myoclonus ?

Answer 9

Short, involuntary motor activation

Question 10

The hierarchy is both functional and anatomical with purposeful and skilled movements initiated by the….

Answer 10

Cortex supplemented by the basal ganglia, cerebellum and cortex

Question 11

Where does activity occur during automatic movements ?

Answer 11

in the brain stem and spinal cord

Question 12

Why is the positive of automatic mini programs and reflexes ?

Answer 12

relieves the load on the CNS

Question 13

What did Ferrier and Sherrington determine the site of the motor cortex was ?

Answer 13

Pre-central gyrus

Question 14

What is the primary motor cortex ?

Answer 14

Is a strip of tissue anterior to the central sulcus.

Question 15

What is the primary motor cortex anatomically called ?

Answer 15

it is called the pre central gyrus or area 4 or M1

Question 16

What does stimulation of the primary motor cortex lead to ?

Answer 16

Activation of muscle

Question 17

What is the corticospinal tract ?

Answer 17

The output of the human motor system controlling skilled movement

Question 18

How much axons do M1, supplementary, pre-motor areas and the somatosensory cortex contribute ?

Answer 18

-M1 = 30 percent
- Supplementary and pre-motor areas = 30 percent
- Somatosensory corte = 40 percent

Question 19

What area of the cortex work together to direct voluntary movement ?

Answer 19

The motor and sensory areas

Question 20

What is direct monosynaptic connections from the cortex to the spinal nerves a feature of ?

Answer 20

Is a feature of primates that enhance the ability of monkeys, apes and man to make a wide range of controlled movements by the co-ordination of muscle contraction in space and time.

Question 21

What does the lateral corticospinal tract form a part of ?

Answer 21

The internal capsule, cerebral peduncles and pyramids

Question 22

Where does movement occur if electrical stimulation of sites in M1 ( primary motor cortex ) ?

Answer 22

M1 elects movement in the corresponding part of the musculoskeletal system.

Question 23

How does corticospinal motor neurones in man and primates control the forearm and hands ?

Answer 23

Via single synapses

Question 24

What is affected if primary motor cortex is damaged ?

Answer 24

Precision of movement

Question 25

What can’t complex co-ordianted movement movement directed from the SMA be elected with ?

Answer 25

Single point stimulation

Question 26

What disorder is known to occur when associated with basal ganglia ?

Answer 26

Parkinsons disease

Question 27

What is the function of the cerebellum ?

Answer 27

• The cerebellum appears to refine movements, generating smooth, co-ordinated sequences of muscle interaction.

Question 28

What does damage to the cerebellum cause ?

Answer 28

can result in poorly co-ordinated, robotic, inaccurate movement and loss of balance
The cerebellum is involved in learning new sequences of movement

Question 29

What is the function of the brainstem nuclei ?

Answer 29

Controls innate behaviour, such as posture, grooming and feeding

Question 30

What is the function of the midbrain ?

Answer 30

To control the speed of locomotion

Question 31

What does a behaviour that has rhythmic pattern require ?

Answer 31

It requires some sort of timing device, either specialised cells or circuit, that can maintain a beat.
The spinal cord contains circuits that generate rhythmic patterns for locomotion.