The structure and function of the descending tract Part 3

Question 1

How is damage in the motor pathways located?

Answer 1

Symptoms indicate which pathway(s) have been interrupted

Question 2

What does level damage dictate?

Answer 2

Severity of the symptoms

Question 3

What does higher level damage of the motor pathways mean?

Answer 3

Closer to the brain

Question 4

What does higher level damage of the motor pathways show?

Answer 4

Increased % body with motor deficit

Question 5

What does damage to the trunk of upper neurons between the upper and lower limbs result in?

Answer 5

Paraplegia

Question 6

Damage to what results in paraplegia

Answer 6

damage to the trunk of upper neurons between the upper and lower limbs

Question 7

What is paraplegia

Answer 7

loss of motor function in the lower body and the lower limbs

Question 8

What does damage to the trunk of upper neurons above the upper and lower than the brain result in?

Answer 8

tetraplegia

Question 9

What is tetraplegia

Answer 9

Loss of voluntary movement in both upper limbs and upper body and lower limbs

Question 10

What does lower level neuron tract damage result in (deficit)

Answer 10

Specific deficit

Where only a small region of muscles are affected while the rest functioning normally

Question 11

What does higher level neuron tract damage result in ?

Answer 11

Release where there may be:
New patterns of activity
Normal function
Damage in spinal cord but normal lower motor neuoron function

Question 12

What causes upper motor neuron syndrome?

Answer 12

Damage to the descending motor pathways at any point

Question 13

What areas of the motor system are commonly damaged? Why?

Answer 13

Upper motor neurons

Large cortical areas or long pathways

Question 14

How is the motor system arranged?

Answer 14

In a topogrophical arangement

Question 15

What does topographical mean?

Answer 15

Where area is related t to physical position

Question 16

What causes lower motor neuron syndrome?

Answer 16

Damage to the alpha motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscle

Question 17

What does lower motor neuron syndrome affect?

Answer 17

Small group of muscles

Question 18

What are the symptoms of upper motor neuron syndrome

Answer 18

Paralysis of movements
Increased muscle tone (hypertonia) - maintenance of muscle mass and there is no muscle atrophy
Hyperactive stretch reflexes
Extensor plantar reflex (Babinski Sign)
Reduction in superficial reflexes

Question 19

What are the symptoms of lower motor neuron syndrome

Answer 19

Loss of innervation to the muscles
Paralysis of muscles
Hypotonia (loss of muscle tone) and atrophy of muscles- muscle wasting
Fasciculations and fibrillations
Loss of stretch reflexes but superficial reflexes are maintained

Question 20

What elicits superficial reflexes

Answer 20

Gentle cutaneous stimulation

Question 21

What elicits extensor plantar reflex

Answer 21

Sharp object across the plantar aspect of the foot

Question 22

What is the name for abnormal extensor plantar reflex ?

Answer 22

Babinski reflex

Question 23

What are the signs for the Babinski reflex

Answer 23

Fanning of the toes, extending of the toes towards the dorsal aspect of the foot

Question 24

When is the babinski reflex seen as normal and why?

Answer 24

For children under two years as the corticospinal tract is not fully myelinated

Question 25

What is the normal response of the extensor plantar reflex

Answer 25

Curling of the toes downwards

flexion towards the plantar aspect of the foot