MOTOR SYSTEM

Part I

Part of the nervous system controlling, regulating

skeletal muscle
Before you see the activity of any skeletal muscle we
observe first the activation/ initiation of action potential
in neurons and that activation occurs in the motor
nerve that develops in the CNS
Idea for a certain motor activity initially develops in the
cortex, we call the different cortical association area
Then they can now transmit impulses towards part of
the nervous system involved in the regulation of
movement, so first they activate basal ganglia and
cerebellum (neocerebellum)
Once it happen we now have the activation of motor
cortices, the motor cortex will again send impulses to
the basal ganglia and cerebellum
Basal ganglia- coordinate fast or slow movement
Cerebellum- coordinate only rapid motor activity/
fast movement
Once you have organized the said motor impulses in the
motor cortices especially in the primary motor cortex
they become the new impulses towards the other parts
of the nervous system involved in directly? affecting
muscle, they will send impulses either to the brainstem
or spinal cord
Transmitted first to the cerebellum before the
transmission of impulses towards the muscle
Intermediate cerebellum (paleocerebellum) will again
communicate with the cortex to organize the motor
impulses that will be transmitted to the skeletal muscle
Communicate ventrally to the brainstem to transmit
impulses now to the muscle
Proximal or truncal muscles - muscles receiving
impulses coming from the brainstem; essential for
growth movements or maintenance of posture
Distal muscles- muscles receiving impulses from
spinal cord; responsible for accurate or precise
motor activity that will go straight to the muscle

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

For effective regulation of muscular activity, the muscle

can also communicate to the center
The activity is divided into 2:
Planning- organizes the motor impulses (CSA, BG,
LC and motor cortices)
Execution responsible for directly transmitting
impulses coming from the motor cortex to the
muscle
o Origin of motor command: motor cortex
(primary motor cortex)
Hypothalamus and parts of the limbic system
(hippocampal and parahippocampal regions) have a
minimal effect on the skeletal muscles because they
affect mostly visceral tissues
Thalamus can be involved but mostly concern with
transmission of impulses acting as a relay station. They
do not modify motor impulses

THREE TYPES OF MOVEMENT GENERATED BY

MOTOR SYSTEM
REFLEXES
- Rapid, stereotyped involuntary responses
- Do not require greater activity of the cortex
- Mostly activated is the Spinal Cord and Brainstem
- Least affected by a stimulus
- needed for postural activity
VOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS
- Involve cortical activity/cortical neurons
- Needs activation of neurons in the cerebral cortex
first; Pre---central gyrus/frontal lobe
- Characterized by two features:
- Purposeful (Goal Directed)
- Largely learned movement (improves with practice);
also involves lateral cerebellum (cerebrocerebellum)
* Involuntary movement is reserved for smooth/cardiac
muscles; they generate their own impulses
* Although there are involuntary skeletal muscles, we do
not refer them as involuntary; the proper term is reflex; the
impulses are generated by neurons, neuronal function
RHYTMIC MOTOR PATTERNS
- Initially voluntary movement; when frequently
utilized, muscles will eventually perform reflex
activities
- Stereotype, repetitive movements that occur in
reflex---like fashion after voluntarily initiated
- E.g. writing, walking, driving a car
- Also needed for maintenance of posture;
22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

Postural support movements

-Reflex movement/voluntary movement - they need to
have normal activity of neurons
What is needed for us to have activity in the skeletal
muscles?
- we must have an intact reflex arc
REFLEX ARC
Basic unit of integrated reflex activity
Components:
o Sensory organs
o Afferent neurons
o Center Sensation
o Efferent neurons
o Effectors reflex action
When we have reflex activities, do we utilize only
skeletal muscles to react to the change affecting the
body? the answer is no
REFLEX ACTION (hindi na niya to diniscuss pero kasama pa
rin sa ppt niya )

May involve simultaneous contraction of some muscles

and relaxation of other muscles
That is why we have what we call agonist and
antagonistic muscles for us to have a well coordinated
movement of the body
Simultaneous with muscle activity, we also observe
visceral activities
May involve either somatic or visceral responses which
could occur simultaneously
Involves activation of one or several synapses;
Synapses could be somatic for skeletal muscles or
visceral (autonomic neurons) that will control visceral
tissues
Happens without conscious perception
REMEMBER HOWEVER, VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES ALSO
INVOLVE AN INTACT REFLEX ARC
Impulses are modified in various parts of the CNS
Basal ganglia modify BOTH FAST AND SLOW movements
Cerbellar activity modify FAST movements

A. SENSORY ORGANS
- Stretch and proprioceptors are mostly used in motor
activity
- MUSCLE SPINDLE
- GOLGI TENDON ORGANS

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

B. AFFERENT NEURONS
- Mostly type A alpha neurons, some could be type A
beta and delta
- When we describe sensory afferent nerves, they are
describe mostly according to size
- GROUP IA, GROUP IB and GROUP II fibers
C. CENTER
- Spinal Cord/Brainstem
- Cerebral Cortex , cerebellum, basal ganglia
D. EFFERENT NEURONS
motor neurons Extrafusal muscle fiber
-capable of generating tension; can really contract
motor neurons Intrafusal muscle fiber
- not responsible for contraction
- functions as sensory receptors
- another name of muscle spindle fibers
* Muscle spindles are the sensory receptors in the
body that contains both sensory and efferent nerves
E. EFFECTORS
- Skeletal muscles
- Mostly the extrafusal muscle fibers
EFFECTORS - Skeletal muscles (Extrafusal Fibers)
MAJOR SENSORY RECEPTORS
Muscle spindle (Intrafusal fibers)
- Stretch---sensitive receptors
- Spindle Stretch
Golgi tendon organs
- Tension---sensitive receptors
- Tendon Tension
*once the muscle is stretched, it will activate the muscle
spindle while the muscle develops tension?? to activate
only the GTO
* These receptors are present in the muscle. What is really
present in the muscle? ->muscle spindle; involved in the
muscle activity
*The muscle spindle is covered by your muscle fibers
(extrafusal), inside are the intrafusal muscle fibers while the
GTO are covered by the tendon
*Muscle spindle are seen inside the muscle bundle which
separates the extrafusal muscle fibers to be able to expose
the muscle spindle

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

SENSORY ENDINGS
PRIMARY ENDINGS (Annulospiral)
- Group Ia
- Innervate both the nuclear bag and nuclear chain
- Detect amount of muscle stretch but more
sensitive to the rate of change of the muscle length
- velocity sensitive fibers
- IMPORTANCE: Tells the center that the body part is in
motion
- Dynamic position (Kinesthesia)

2 TYPES OF MUSCLE SPINDLES

Nuclear Bag
- Larger diameter
- Arranged in clusters
Nuclear Chain
- Thinner diameter
- Arranged in chains
*these 2 structures in the muscle spindle have different
functions connected to several sensory neurons

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

SECONDARY ENDINGS (Flower Spray)

- Group II
- Innvervate only the nuclear chain fibers
- not sensitive to the rate of change of
muscle length
- Provides information about the static length of the
fibers
- Can only tell the length of the muscle
- IMPORTANCE: It will only tell the center that the body
part is stationary
- Static position
*When nuclear bag is active-> there is movement of the
said body part
*When nuclear chain is active -> there are contracted
muscles but no movement of the said body part

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

* Muscles with more muscles spindles Greater

precision/accurate activity Mostly in the distal body
parts (Hands, feet, face-mouth)
*The basic reflex that affects the muscle spindle is the
adequate stimulus that is stretch.
*Basic reflex -> stretch or myotatic reflex
TYPES OF STRETCH REFLEXES
STATIC RESPONSE
-Weak, continuous for posture/balance
-Involves activity of the nuclear bag and the nuclear
chain, but with greater activity of the chain
-Involves activation of group Ia and group II neurons, but
mostly group II
-Activates motor neurons that affect directly your
extrafusal and static gamma fibers sending impulses to
your intrafusal muscle spindle mostly affecting the
nuclear chain, but the static gamma neurons are the
ones mostly affected
DYNAMIC RESPONSE
- Strong, sudden for carrying load, when doing work
- Involves activity mostly of the nuclear bag; same
activity of the nuclear chain (no change in the activity of
the nuclear chain)
- Greater activity of the group Ia neurons
- Oppose sudden changes in muscle length
- Activates motor neurons and dynamic gamma fibers,
but the gamma fibers affected are mostly the dynamic
gamma fibers
* Static gamma fibers are mostly attached to the nuclear
chain; Dynamic gamma fibers are attached to the nuclear
bag

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

*Gamma fiber is a motor nerve that is an efferent nerve.

This efferent nerve is connected to a RECEPTOR (intrafusal
muscle fiber)
*Nuclear bag and chain are having connections with both
afferent and efferent nerve
*when you activate your muscle spindle eventually you will
activate your alpha (that is really an efferent nerve that
control the activity of effectors in the muscle, your
extrafusal that are the ones capable of
shortening/contracting) and gamma motor nerves (control
directly activity of your spindle; they can contract but
minimal and will not involve movement of a muscle)
*The coactivation of gamma motor neurons (static and
dynamic) is to retain the sensitivity of muscle spindle even if
you have activated the said receptor in the muscle
*kahit activated na yung spindle meron ng response ang
muscle you can still activate the said spindle and cause
another response for the muscle
*A contracted muscle is not refractory to stimulation
*The activation of your gamma motor neuron retains the
sensitivity of muscle spindle. Meron kang ability to develop
another contraction when a said muscle is contracted ->
temporal summation (tetanus/tetanic contraction)
* Activity of the DYNAMIC GAMMA FIBERS increases spindle
sensitivity to the rate of change of stretch (Nuclear bag).
Increases phasic activity of Ia fibers
* Activity of the STATIC GAMMA FIBERS increases spindle
sensitivity to steady, maintained stretch (Nuclear chain).
Increases tonic activity of Ia fibers

MYOTATIC REFLEX
Muscle spindle stretch sensitive receptors
Group Ia and II sensory neurons
- Transmit impulses to the spinal cord, entering the dorsal
root/dorsal horn and immediately move towards the
ventral horn and activate the alpha and gamma motor
nerves transmission of excitatory impulses to the stretch
muscle; they primarily affect extrafusal muscle fibers but
22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

can also have effects on the gamma motor neurons and

they can also send impulses back to the muscle spindle
But what is really contracting? The ones affected by the
alpha motor neurons, which are the extrafusal fibers
Activity of the gamma can even increase sensitivity of the
spindles to stretch when the muscle contracts
Very fast reflex of the body, because it will only involve a
single synapse it will only synapse with the ventral horn
KNEE JERK REFLEX
Strike the patellar tendon Quadriceps muscles are
stretched
The sensory alpha neurons are basically type a alpha --These are very fast neurons 120 m/s impulse transmission
That is why when these neurons are used, the stimulation
and response happens almost simultaneously
All motor neurons have characteristics similar to type a
alpha large diameter and myelinated nerves
GOLGI TENDON ORGAN
Present in the tendon
An encapsulated receptor
The actual receptors are the noodle-like structures inside
the tendon
Utilizes group Ib sensory neurons
Stimulus is tension. Who will generate tension?
Contraction of the muscle
They will also enter dorsal horn but they will not
immediately activate ventral horn. What is initially
affected? Its the neuron present at the central region of

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

the cord inhibitory interneuron in the spinal cord that is

the one affected by your group1b
When GTO is stimulated Ib neurons Dorsal horn
INHIBITORY INTERNEURON inhibitory impulses go to the
anterior motor nerves
Unlike the group Ia and group II that go straight to the
dorsal horn (single synapse), group Ib activates inhibitory
interneurons
The inhibitory interneuron activated by group Ib will
cause inhibition of alpha motor neurons and the muscle
will now undergo relaxation.
The reflex involving the GTO is called inverse
stretch / inverse myotatic reflex/
lengthening response / autogenic inhibitory reflex
REFLEX Because the tension developed by contraction of
the muscles is its own stimulus for relaxation
Compared to stretch reflex, the inverse myotatic reflex is
described as a disynaptic of polysynaptic reflex. Because it is
disynaptic, normally the duration of relaxation if greater
than duration of contraction because relaxation involves
two synapses, therefore the transmission of impulses is
slower.
INVERSE MYOTATIC REFLEX
GTO Tension sensitive receptor
Group Ib sensory neurons
Stimulates an inhibitory interneuron (Spinal cord)
Inhibiting alpha motor neurons
resulting to muscular relaxation

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

NEURAL AREAS THAT CONTROL MOTOR FUNCTION

different parts of the motor system considered as centers higher centers of motor activity
A. CEREBRAL CORTEX
motor command
B. BASAL GANGLIA
for effective regulation of almost all movements, fast and slow
C. CEREBELLUM
for regulation and coordination of fast movements; rapid motor activity
D. BRAINSTEM
for execution of motor commands directed towards muscles involved in maintaining posture,

proximal

E. SPINAL CORD
for muscle
dorsal : sensation :: ventral : motor

Belle Magendie Law

for autonomic activity
ventral horn origin of motor nerve

* Except for the limbic system and hypothalamus

* In the spinal cord, Laminae 8-9 of the ventral horn
are important
COMPLETE TRANSECTION OF THE SPINAL CORD
damage in ventral horn paralysis below the level of the lesion
Permanent paraplegia
- Initially flaccid spastic paraplegia
the affected body part is flaccid, then later on as it progresses it becomes spastic
Loss of sensations
Spinal shock (loss of spinal reflexes)
- Lasts for a minimum of 2 weeks
there is motor, sensory and sympathetic injury
Observed below the level of injury
1 or 2 levels below
Recovery is possible for some somatic and autonomic reflexes like knee jerk, flexor (withdrawal) reflexes,
micturition, erection
limited on the age of the px; >40 recovery is difficult since it takes more time to regenerate

compared to <20
motor and autonomic reflexes are possible to recover

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

BRAINSTEM
Mostly for control of muscles involved in maintaining posture; mostly axial or truncal
controlling activity of postural muscles; motor command transmitted by the cortex towards the postural

muscle via the brainstem (midbrain, pons, medulla)

essential for maintaining posture

Collectively known as anti-gravity muscles

other name = postural muscles
promote extension of these muscles as discussed in Equilibrium

BRAINSTEM FUNCTION
Provides background contraction
- Trunk
- Neck
- Proximal portions of the limbs
Supports the body against gravity

Majority are EXTENSORS, except

extensors of the upper extremities

for

Also includes the muscles elevating the jaw

* Pons is the most active in promoting continuous
activity of the muscles to maintain posture involuntarily
* Even without cortical activity, we can maintain
posture, as long as the brainstem is active, where we
have the reticular activating system

pons mostly active in maintaining posture

pons gives impulses mostly from the cerebellum
and vestibular nucleus to maintain posture; and some
impulses coming from the brainstem, especially the
midbrain. But majority comes from the cerebellum and
vestibular nuclei activating continuously the pons
especially when the person is awake and alert,
responsive to the changes happening in the environment
pontine neurons will continuously transmit excitatory impulses to the anti-gravity muscles utilizing the
medial tract in the spinal cord
medial pathways mostly medial proximal trunkal muscle needed to maintain posture
pontine activity is transmitted via the medial reticular tract continuously transmitting excitatory
impulses to the anti-gravity muscle maintain posture and balance even in without cortical activity
reticular activating system in pons active when alert and awake upright head
normal posture: extended arms, legs, neck and back

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

if a person wants to move, pons must be

antagonized by the medulla which activated by cortical
activity voluntary control
cortical activity medulla is activated via the
rubrospinal tract transmit impulses using the lateral
tract decreased activity of the anti-gravity muscles
antagonizing the pontine activity flexion

* Can transmit inhibitory impulses to the pons with the

help of rubrospinal tract and the medullary neurons
* Utilizes the lateral reticular tract
* REMEMBER: PONS EXCITATORY MEDIAL; MEDULLA INHIBITORY LATERAL
RETICULOSPINAL TRACT
- Affects activity of proximal muscles and muscles of the trunk
- Affects mostly extensors

can also affect flexors but greater effects extensors

affects muscles for maintaining posture

PONTINE RETICULOSPINAL TRACT

- Generally STIMULATORY on both extensors and flexors, BUT GREATER EFFECT ON EXTENSORS
extended position
MEDULLARY RETICULOSPINAL TRACT
- Generally INHIBITORY on both extensors and flexors, BUT GREATER EFFECT ON EXTENSORS
- You are now able to activate flexors and change body position; Medullary neurons are used
medullary activity is dependent on cortical activity
BRAINSTERM INJURIES
Injuries are always FATAL
BRAINSTEM INJURY ABOVE THE PONS
- Decerebrate rigidity
- All muscles stimulated are mostly extensors
- Midbrain and cortex are not capable of exerting their influence on the body
- Highest center that can control activity becomes pons excitatory to extensors; No cerebrum or
medulla to control their effect

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

DECEREBRATE RIGIDITY
1. Increases excitability of the extensors
2. Positive tonic labyrinthine reflexes
3. Positive tonic neck reflexes
4. Positive spinal reflexes
5. Negative righting reflexes
- Extension and hyperpronation of the arms
- Extension and internal rotation of the legs
- OPISTHOTONOS (Arching of neck and back)

eg: injury between midbrain and pons the activities of the cortex and midbrain are never transmitted

to the muscle muscle control is up to the next highest center pons extended position
decerebrate

Brainstem injury above the pontine reticular formation removes the inhibitory inputs to the reticular
formation DECEREBRATE RIGIDITY

opisthotonus position: highly extended back and neck

increased excitability of extensors attitudinal reflexes
midbrain is concerned in maintaining balance different righting reflexes except the optical righting

reflex which is cortical

px dies in less than a week

BRAINSTEM INJURY ABOVE THE MIDBRAIN
- Decorticate rigidity
- Midbrain function is preserved; there is normal righting reflex
affect the upper portion of the midbrain
arms are flexed
midbrain army(?) man eventually dies
also happens when theres a problem in the internal capsule in the cerebral peduncle
MIDBRAIN ANIMAL (PREPARATION)
1. Positive righting reflexes (midbrain function)
2. Positive tonic labyrinthine reflexes
3. Positive tonic neck reflexes
4. Negative spontaneous movement (automaton)
5. Lacks the decerebrate rigidity (decorticate)

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

 righting reflexes are still functional;

eg: if a pxs head is moved, it will go back to its normal position (decorticate) correcting reflex, unlike

in decerebrate, it will no longer go back to normal position once moved

DECORTICATE RIGIDITY
- Flexion of arms with extension and internal rotation of legs
- Common cause of decortication in humans (Massive stroke;
Hunger; Hypoglycemia)
arms are flexed while legs are still extended
px eventually dies

decorticate to decerebrate will die eventually

CEREBRAL CORTEX
Parietal sensory somatic
Temporal sensory auditory
Occipital sensory visual
Frontal
Pre-Frontal Cortex - judgment, ambitions, cognitive functions of the brain
plans for the future
Motor Cortex
important part is the portion close to the central sulcus; posterior portion of the frontal lobe

PRE-CENTRAL GYRUS
tells the muscles to move

MOTOR CORTEX
divided into 2 hemispheres:
o Left controls the R
o Right controls the L

-why? the fibers that will eventually control the

muscles decussate to the opposite thereby controlling
the contralateral side of the body
controls the muscles
responsible for organizing the motor impulses and
converting them into motor commands which are
later on transmitted to either the brainstem or the
spinal cord
location:
posterior 1/3 of the frontal lobe
anterior to the central sulcus

10

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

 Cortical Activity is similar to the spinal cord:

o pre-central gyrus (anterior) motor
o post-central gyrus (posterior) sensory
different Brodmann Areas in the Motor Cortex
o Primary Motor
o Premotor
o Supplementary Motor

-parietal: Somatic Sensory/Somesthetc Cortex

1 somatic sensory area B.A. 3, 1, 2
2somatic sensory area B.A. 5, 7
-there is communication among different neurons in the cerebral cortex
-it has been observed that:
the somatic sensory area 2 can communicate with supplementary and premotor cortices of the
frontal lobe;
the 1 somatic sensory area can communicate with 1 motor cortex
-hence, they can send impulses but the transmission of impulses is from sensory to motor; activity from
the parietal cortex affects the activity of the motor cortex as well every time there is somatic
sensation, there will be a motor response
- Ang Visual Sensory hindi pa masyado. May nakita ka? Hindi ka agad magrereact. Pero pag Somatic
Sense lalo sa dilim may humawak sayo, talagang gagalaw ka. Ramdam mo agad yun kaya magrereact
ka. Eh sa dilim wala ka makikita. Sa smell hindi din masyado. It takes time before you have a motor
response.
-Somatic Sense leads to a Motor Activity
-according to some books, even activity of the parietal cortex can immediately cause motor activity
even without activation of motor cortex 1:27:30

THREE SUB AREAS

- Primary motor area
essential in formation of motor commands
origin of motor commands to be transmitted to the parts of the nervous system responsible for

execution
organization of motor commands with the help of the basal ganglia and cerebellum
once a motor command is organized, it is the primary motor area that will send impulses to the
brainstem and spinal cord
BA #4:cortical efferent zone efferent neurons muscles
uncontrolled contralateral movement due to decussation of fibers of the L hemisphere at the level of
the brainstem medulla oblongata; hence, these fibers crosses over to the opposite side of the body
Motor Homonculus - similar to Sensory Homonculus (parietal)
-found in the frontal area
-well represented in the: face, hand and foot
-these well represented body parts are concerned with precision and accurate
motor activities
-eg: the thumb is mostly represented in the hand since responsible for stronger
grip

11

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

- Premotor area
important in maintaining posture if a person is about to perform a complex movement (eg: necessary

for dancers)
utilize mostly the medial descending pathway
the pons makes use of the medial reticular tract to continuously the extensor muscles to maintain
posture
receives impulses mostly from parietal cortex somatic sensory area 2

- Supplementary motor area

necessary in memorizing motor activities
both lateral parts must be activated (contract) to effectively control the muscles involved in the said

activity; also, stronger stimulation is needed to activate the muscles

necessary for dancers, athletes, etc.

thats why trying to learn how to dance, one must concentrate

-Posterior Parietal Cortex and Somatic Sensory Areas

to control the motor cortex, the parietal area must always communicate with the frontal cortex in this

manner:

1 somatic sensory 1 motor cortex

CANNOT BE
2 somatic sensory premotor and supplementary areas
the parietal lobe when activated can sometimes immediately cause activation of muscles even without
activation of motor cortex
eg: sasaksakin ka, nakikita mo palang yung knife, nagrereact ka na. hindi ka pa na-stimulate

12

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

-Other Important Areas in the Cortex

Brocas
for word formation or speech
if destroyed, person cannot speak fluently

BROCAS APHASIA

Voluntary Eye Movement or Frontal Eye Movement

activity of extra-ocular muscles
Head rotation area; Area for hand skills

-all present in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe

DESCENDING TRACTS
cortical activity utilize pathways to transmit impulses towards the muscles using the spinal cord and the

brainstem
these impulse whenever transmitted towards the brainstem and spinal cord, always pass through these
areas in the nervous system
disruption of these areas would cause paralysis paraplegia
descending fibers originate from the motor cortex (60%) and parietal cortex (40%); hence, some
neurologists would say that the parietal cortex when activated can cause direct activation of muscles
even without activation of the motor area
most fibers that move downwards to transmit impulses towards the brainstem and spinal cord are
coming from the motor cortices (primary and premotor)

-Corticospinal tract
-Corticobulbar tract
utilized if brainstem
utilizes all cranial nerves except those with purely sensory in function (CN I, II and VIII)
controls the head and neck
o neck muscles

movement of jaw uses trigeminal nerve

o facial muscles
facial muscles facial nerves
o muscles within the oral cavity
tongue hypoglossal nerve
manner of control:
ipsilateral or contralateral
o eg: CN VII (facial nerve) greater control mostly at the opposite side
L corticobulbar - controls mostly the R side
- controls only the upper L quadrant
- no control on the lower L quadrant
and vice versa for the R corticobulbar; thats why the face is divided into 4
quadrants
o by the way, we have these terms in neuroanatomy:
corticobulbar reference point is the motor nucleus of the cranial nerve
upper motor
-any neuron before the motor nucleus upper motor nerves
lower motor
-neurons arising from the motor nucleus of the CN lower motor neurons
corticospinal reference point is the ventral horn of the spinal nerve

13

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012

 upper motor

-cortex to the anterior horn

lower motor

-neurons arising from the anterior horn

o injury affecting the upper motor nerves before the motor nucleus of the CN, injury is central but

the complaint is peripheral

problem:
L corticobulbar
complain:
R lower quadrant
since the other areas are controlled by R corticobulbar
upper motor neuron injury the px complains with contralateral, lower quadrant
o injury involving the lower motor neurons. Injury is central but complain is ipsilateral and
observed affecting the upper and the lower portions half of the face
problem:
Bells Palsy
complain:
problems on the L half of the face
injury:
R corticobulbar

o ask the px to contract facial muscles

inability to contract R lower portion

site of injury: L upper motor neuron

inability to contract R half of the face
site of injury: R lower motor neuron
o corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts are essential descending pathways for initiation of skill
(fine or precise motor activities); these control distal body parts

14

Dr. Felipe Barbon

Motor System Part I
Medical Physiology B

22 February 2012
transcribed for Medicine - 1B
2nd Semester SY 2011 - 2012