Upper Motor Neurons Flashcards
Ideas (motivation and planning) arise in the
Frontal lobe
Motor planning(organization of the movement) arises in the
Premotor areas
Informtation about spatial relationships arises in the
Posterior parietal cortex (parietal association cortex)
Where somatosensory and visual information are integrated
Posterior parietal cortex (parietal association cortex)
Difficulty in using body part to perform complex voluntary actions
Apraxia
Caused by lesions in premotoror posterior parietal cortex
Apraxia
Tested by asking patients to do things such as grasp a pencil or button a shirt
Apraxia
Project to SC and brainstem α-motor neurons and interneurons in lamina VIII and IX
Descending pathways
There are two groups of descending pathways. What do the following innervate:
- ) Medial pathways
- ) Lateral Pathways
- ) Proximal motor neurons (proximal muscles)
2. ) Distal motor neurons (distal muscles)
Upper motor neurons descend from the
Cortex or brainstem
The primary pathwayfor goal-directed movements
Corticospinal Tract (Pyramidal Tract)
Only descending pathway to project directlyto α-motor neurons of distal muscles
Corticospinal Tract (Pyramidal Tract)
The Corticospinal Tract (Pyramidal Tract) is the only pathway for
Fine movements of the fingers
The motor cortex is organized
Somatotropically
Project directly to motor neurons in the motor cortex
Large Betz Cells
The corticospinal tract can be disrupted in many places. But a common site for stroke is in the
Internal Capsule (affects posterior limb)
Projects directly and indirectly to motor neurons and motor interneurons in the lateral ventral horn (to distal muscles)
Lateral Corticospinal Tract (LCST)
Projects bilaterally to motor neurons and interneurons in the medial ventral horn (to proximal and trunk muscles)
ACST
The corticospinal tracts contribute to both the
Lateral and medial motor systems
Located in lateral funiculus, near to motor neurons to extremities
Lateral Motor Systems
Located in ventral funiculus, close to trunk motor neurons for proximal muscles
Medial Motor Systems
Major pathway for voluntary movements of the limbs
Lateral Corticospinal Tract
The lateral corticospinal tract is the only pathway for
Fine finger movements
Voluntary motor weakness (distal > proximal) on one side of the body are the major deficits with
LCST lesions
What is a sign that suggests LCST lesion?
Babinski sign
Lesions above the spinal cord produce
Contralateral deficits
Lesions of the spinal cord produce symptoms on the
Same side as lesion
Are always BELOW the level of the lesion
Deficits
Elicited by stroking the lateral plantar surface (the sole) of the foot
-The same reflex is seen in babies before the corticospinal tract is myelinated
Babinski Tests (Extensor plantar response)
These brainstem centers are used for responding to stimuli or movement errors, and to control postures and tone
Midbrain centers, Pontine Centers, and Medullary Centers