Anatomy and Physiology > Motor Function > Flashcards

Motor Function Flashcards

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1
Q

How does locomotion happen?

A

-animals move by exerting forces on their environment generated by muscles
-force is transmitted via bones/joints
-force is applied to the environment to accelerate the body
-Ground Reaction Forces determine ‘load’ experienced by musculoskeletal tissues
-affected by environmental media

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2
Q

Anatomical components of animal locomotion - nervous system

A

-pattern generation
-motor control

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3
Q

Anatomical components of animal locomotion - muscles

A

-generate forces
-transform chemical energy into mechanical energy

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4
Q

Anatomical components of animal locomotion -skeleton and joints

A

-support and lever

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5
Q

Diagram of nervous system with those related to movement outlined in pink

A
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6
Q

Cyclic pattern of movement of gait

A

-speed
-acceleration
-manoeuvrability
-stability
-endurance
-economy
Walk, trot, gallop

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7
Q

Motor control and pattern generation

A

-locomotion requires pattern of co-ordinated movement
-animals use rhythmic movement with large degrees of freedom
-CNS generates and controls these movements
-interaction of spinal pattern generators, sensory feedback and descending supraspinal control generates movement

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8
Q

Central pattern generators

A

-self organising circuit that allow animals to do repetitive rhythmic movements such as scratching, micturitiin, ejaculation, breathing, locomotion
-motor an interneurons in the spinal cord
-involuntary activities that often require a cyclic type of movement
-the information doesn’t reach the brain
-still require modulatory inputs

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9
Q

The brain involvement in movement

A
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10
Q

Main part of movement for brain

A

Primary motor cortex

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11
Q

Name

A

1.premotor cortex
2.frontal lobe
3.supplementary motor cortex
4.primary motor cortex
5.parietal lobe
6.occipital lobe
7.temporal lobe

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12
Q

Name 1-5 of key components of motor control

A

1.midbrain
2.pons
3.medulla
4.cerebellum
5.spinal cord

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13
Q

Name 1-11

A

1.lobulus centralis
2.culmen (Rostral)
3.culmen (caudal)
4.primary fissure
5.declive
6.folium vermis
7.tuber vermis
8.pyramis
9.uvula
10.nodulus
11.lingula

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14
Q

Name part of cerebellum

A

Lobulus centralis

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15
Q

Name red and purple of cerebellum

A

Red = one vermis
Purple = two cerebellar hemispheres

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16
Q

Spinal cord morphology

A

-sits in the vertebral canal surrounded by the meninges
-central canal filled with CSF
-grey matter ‘core’
-cell bodies
-dorsal and ventral horns
-superficial white matter
-myelinated axons
-divided into columns (funiculi)

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17
Q

Name 1-5 of spinal cord

A

1.lateral funiculus
2.dorsal funiculus
3.dorsal horn
4.ventral horn
5.ventral funiculus

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18
Q

Type of movement from 1 and 2 from spinal cord

A

1.learnt, conscious, voluntary (dominated by flexor muscle activation) discrete contraction

2.postural, antigravity, involuntary (dominated by extensor muscle activity) long term contraction

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19
Q

Tracts in spinal cord

A

-all spinal pathways involve a sequence of neurons
-signals are transmitted from one neuron to the next in sequence

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20
Q

Tract pathways

A

-ascending
-descending

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21
Q

Ascending pathways

A

Carry information from receptors to the brain

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22
Q

Descending pathways

A

Convey information from the brain to spinal cord neurons

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23
Q

Name parts of brain tracts run through 1-3

A

1.midbrain
2.pons
3.medulla

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24
Q

Name 1-7 of ascending spinal tracts of C2 vertebrae

A

1.ventral spinocerebellar tract
2.spinothalamic tract
3.fassiculus gracialis
4.fassiculus cuneatus
5.dorsolateral fassiculus
6.spinocervicothalamic tract
7.dorsal spinocerebellar tract

Also ascending tract of L6 and descending tracts of C2 and L6 - not sure if need to learn so go back to lecture if needed

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25
Primary afferent neurons
Conduct signals from peripheral receptors into CNS
26
Interneurons
Short neurons in the CNS. Relay signals. May be excitatory or inhibitory. Often part of a reflex
27
Projection neurons
Axons travel long distances, form tracts, often up to the brain
28
Lower motor neurons (LMN)
Final efferent neurons - conduct signals from the spinal cord to the periphery
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Upper motor neurons (UMN)
Transmit signals from the brain via tracts; found in brainstem and cerebral cortex. Descend in the spinal cord to the level of the appropriate spinal nerve root synapse with LMNs
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Types of lower motor neurons
-alpha -beta -gamma
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Lower motor neurons - alpha
Cell bodies in grey matter of CNS, transmit signals to periphery to release neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junction in skeletal muscle
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Lower motor neurons - gamma
Cell bodies in grey matter of CNS, transmit signals to periphery to release neurotransmitter on small intrafusal fibres in muscle spindles
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Lower motor neurons - beta
Branch to end on both skeletal muscle and intrafusal fibres
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Intrafusal fibres
Specialised, small muscle fibres within sensory organs called muscle spindles -detect muscle stretch and length changes to help control movement and posture
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Motor unit
A motor neuron and all the muscle fibres it innervates
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Autonomic LNMs
Transmit signals to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle or gland cells
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Spinal cord tracts - ascending
-initial neuron is always a primary afferent neuron -unipolar cell body in spinal ganglion -receptor at peripheral end -synapses with projection neurons within the spinal cord or brain
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Ascending spinal cord tracts in conscious pathways
-projections terminate in the contralateral thalamus -thalamic neuron then projects to cerebral cortex
39
Example of ascending tract
-in carnivores, the Spinothalamic tract is an important pain pathway
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Red nucleus
-part of descending tracts -as long as nucleus still intact - still lots of function -very important
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Spinal cord tracts - descending
-begin with projection neurons in the brainstem nuclei or cerebral cortex -axons travel causally to terminate on interneurons or motor neurons -voluntary and involuntary posture and movement
42
Examples of descending spinal tract
The rubrospinal tract is an important tract for executing voluntary movement
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Name of tract
Spinothalamic tract - ascending
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Name of tract
Rubrospinal tract - descending
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Descending tract - pyramidal tract
-corticospinal tracts -arise in cerebral cortex -run through pyramids of medulla -primary pathways for voluntary movement -particularly to muscles of manus and pes
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Descending tract - extra-pyramidal pathways
-arise in brainstem nuclei -run outside of medullary pyramids -mostly involuntary actions, including maintenance of posture
47
Name 1 and P
1.medulla oblongata P = pyramids of medulla
48
Spinal cord segments
-individual ‘segment’ at each vertebral level -36 pairs of spinal nerves with roots in the vertebral canal -each root consists of a dorsal root and a ventral root -leave spinal canal via intervertebral foraminae
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Name circled structure
Cauda equina at end of spinal cord
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Name 1-11 of spinal cord segment
1.ascending pathway 2.descending pathway 3.dorsal root ganglion 4.spinal nerve (mixed) 5.sensory ending 6.skeletal muscle 7.blood vessel 8.sympathetic ganglion 9.abdominal viscera 10.ventral root (motor/efferent) 11.dorsal root (sensory/afferent)
51
Name 1 and 2
1.afferent 2.efferent
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Afferent
Towards the CNS (A for Access) ‘sensory’
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Efferent
Away from the CNS (E for Exit) ‘motor’
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Nerves
-‘visible’ nerves are made up of many axons (tens of thousands) -different axons within the nerve may have different functions -afferent and efferent routes - somatic - supply body wall or limbs -visceral - supply organs, vessels and glands -NB. A nerve may contain both somatic and visceral axons
55
Reflexes
-inherent, consistent response to a stimulus which may or may not be perceived -small component within a local area in the nervous system without participation of the projection pathways to the brain
56
5 components of reflexes
1.receptor 2.afferent signal 3.integration component 4.efferent signal 5.effector
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What do spinal reflexes involve?
Only involved only involve the spinal cord and spinal nerves - reflex arc
58
Myotactic reflex
-muscle stretch reflex -basis of muscle tone: resistance to being stretched -abrupt stretching of the muscle results in a reflex contraction -relies on muscle spindles as receptors -response is via ą motor neurons - reflex contraction of muscle being stretched AND relaxation of synergistic muscles -monosynaptic component = very fast
59
Muscle receptors - muscle spindles
-elaborate proprioceptors which lie parallel to muscle fibres -don’t contribute to contraction
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What are muscle spindles made up of?
-mechanoreceptors -intrafusal muscle fibres -gamma efferent neurons
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Intrafusal fibres
Very small muscle fibres anchored to endomysium which don’t contribute to muscle contraction
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How do muscle spindles work?
-intrafusal fibres detect changes in muscle length and stretch - crucial for proprioception -nerve endings spiral round intrafusal fibres -gamma motor neurons can modify tension in intrafusal fibres
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Patellar reflex
-femoral nerve, spinal cord segment L4 and L5, monosynaptic -myotactic reflex
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Patellar reflex process
1.patella tendon tapped which abruptly stretches the muscle 2.detected by muscle spindles 3.afferent signal via femoral nerve to dorsal roots of L4 and L5 4.in spinal cord, afferent nerve synapses directly with efferent component (ą motor neurons to quadriceps muscle); also synapse on motor neurons to synergsits, and inhibit the motor neurons of antagonists (hamstrings) via interneurons 5.efferent signals sent to quadriceps, synergists and antagonists via ventral root 6.quadriceps and synergistic reflexively contract; antagonists (hamstrings) relax —> reflex ‘kick’
65
Withdrawal reflex process
1.elicited by applying noxious stimulus to paw (e.g. toe pinch) 2.free nerve endings detect stimulus 3.signal via dorsal roots- within spinal cord branch over several segments 4.synapse with interneurons and projection neurons 5.ventral root signals to all flexor muscles; inhibition of extensors 6.reflex flexion ‘withdrawal’ of the limb
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Withdrawal reflex
-multisynaptic reflex -positive feedback extends response -often used to detect depth of anaesthesia
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How is movement regulated?
-several degrees of cranial CNS involvement —> complexity and voluntary movement -spinal cord only (segmental reflex arc) -spinal cord and brainstem (extrapyramidal system) -involuntary, posture (medial tracts, all but rubrospinal tracts) -voluntary skilled HL movement (lateral tracts, distal skilled movement) -frontal lobe involvement (pyramidal system) Other receptors: -receptors in the vestibule and semicircular Cana,s in inner ear -other sensory receptors in skin, joints and muscles -essential for proprioception
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How is muscle tone maintained?
Maintained thanks to muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs, whose information travels through sensory peripheral (somatic) afferent nerves
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What do changes in movement rely on ultimately?
Changes in muscle contraction
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How does sensory information travel?
-enters the spinal cord through dorsal roots (afferent neuron) and exits (+/- interneuron) through ventral root (efferent neuron) to motor nerves to carry a desired action
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Basal ganglia
Areas of grey matter buried in white matter of cerebrum -involved in voluntary movement and movement planning -allow purposeful movement to occur in context at appropriate times
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Major components of movement from basal ganglia?
-caudate nucleus -putamen -globus pallidus
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Cerebellum
-co-ordination of movement -controls timing and force of muscle contraction -synchronises different muscle groups -pre-planning of motor activity -learning of new motor strategies
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3 main sections of cerebellum
-vestibulocerebellum -spinocerebellum -cerebrocerebellum
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Cerebellum - vestibulocerebellum
(Flocculonodular lobe) Afferent: vestibular system and eye Efferent: vestibular nuclei Balance and eye movements
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Cerebellum - spinocerebellum
Afferent: sensory from muscles and skin + ear + eye and vestibular system Efferent: cerebellar nuclei —> extra pyramidal and pyramidal systems -control of movement of limbs and tone (coordination of execution) - fine tuning movement
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Cerebellum - cerebrocerebellum
Afferent: not the body but the cortex Efferent: motor and premotor cortex -preparation and planning of complex motor actions
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Name part of cerebellum
Flocculondular lobe
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Name 1 and 2 of cerebellum
1.lateral (cerebrocerebellum) 2.intermediate (spinocerebellum)
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Rubrospinal tract
Main tract for voluntary movement in the dog
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Rubrospinal tract - how does it work
-axons from ipsilateral motor cortex drive voluntary movement -red nucleus influenced by basal nuclei and also receives input from cerebellum -axons decussate immediately and pass through contralateral brainstem and spinal cord -axons terminate on all segments of the spinal cord -via interneurons they excite flexor and inhibit extensor motor units to limbs
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Name 1-7 of rubrospinal tract
1.cerebellar nuclei: lateral 2.interpositus 3.rubronuclear axons 4.red nucleus 5.thalamus ventrolateral nucleus 6.olivary nucleus 7.cerebral motor cortex
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Vestibular system
Within the ear (bilateral) Position and motion of the head in space
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Vestibular system - semicircular canals
Fluid filled, detect rotational movements
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Vestibular system - vestibule
Utricle detects horizontal movements; saccule detects vertical movements via otoliths
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Parts of vestibule
-utricle -saccule
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Sensory vestibular system
Vestibular system also sensory for other reflexes -vestibular-ocular reflex -proprioception
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Name 1-6
1.cochlear nerve 2.cochlea 3.ampulla 4.lateral semicircular canal 5.vestibular nerve 6.vestibular ganglion
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What is the vestibule?
-between the cochlea and semicircular canals -composed of utricle and saccule -hair cells covered by a gelatinous matrix (endolymph) that contains crystals of calcium carbonate (otoliths) -signals via vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
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Name 1-10
1.pinna 2.Eustachian tube 3.malleus 4.incus 5.semicircular canals 6.vestibule 7.oval window 8.cochlea 9.round window 10.tympanic membrane
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Spinovestibular tract
Somatic sensory nerves (vestibulocochlear VIII) send sensory information about position of the head to brainstem via the spinovestibular tract: -spinovestibular tract runs from the cervical spinal cord to the caudal vestibular nucleus -axons run in the ventral funiculus
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Where does the vestibulospinal tract arise?
In the vestibular nuclei
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Vestibulospinal tract
-nuclei receives spinal and cerebellar input -axons travel through the ipsilateral ventral funiculus and terminate on interneurons in the ventral horn -lateral vestibulospinal tract stimulates alpha and gamma motor neurons of extensor muscles to maintain posture and prevent falling -medial vestibulospinal tract stimulates motor neurons of neck muscles to maintain head position
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Spinovestibular and vestibulospinal tracts
Essential in proprioception and balance
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Neurological examinations - reflexes
-proprioception (knuckle, paper slide) -pedal (limb withdrawal) -panniculus -palpebral -pupillary light reflex -patellar -perineal
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Clinical neurological signs - LMN
Flaccid paralysis, muscle atrophy, fasciculations
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Clinical neurological signs - UMN
Spastic paralysis, loss of voluntary control, hyperactive reflexes, increased muscle tone
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Clinical neurological signs - cerebellum
Lack of coordination, ataxia, wide base gait, dysmetria, impaired planning of movement, decreased ability to learn new movements
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Clinical neurological signs - basal nuclei
Involuntary, unwanted movements, inability to perform intricate movements
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Clinical neurological signs - red nucleus
Extensor hypertonia
101
Clinical neurological signs - vestibular
Head tilt, circling, nystagmus
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