THE MOTOR SYSTEM 2015

Assoc Prof dr Hamiadji

THE MOTOR SYSTEM 2015

A GENERAL OVERVIEW
Assoc Prof dr Hamiadji Tanuseputro
The Motor System consists of those
parts of the Brain and Spinal Cord
that control Skeletal Muscles
There are 3 functional components
(Pyramidal, Extrapyramidal,
Pyramidal System
Cerebellar systems) and a Common
Motor Pathway (Motor neurons in
nuclei of cranial nerves and anterior
horn of spinal cord = Lower Motor
neurons)
 DEFINITIONS
A voluntary movement is a focal act of which the
executor is consciously aware.

The focus of a voluntary movement is called the

focal act; this expresses the fact that one
concentrates on performing one movement at a
time.

The corticospinal tracts, which are largest in

man, have a crucial role in the manipulative skills
and the independent movements of mans
extremities, particularly of the fingers.
THE PYRAMIDAL SYSTEM

Corticobulbar

Corticospinal
 THE PYRAMIDAL SYSTEM

The corticospinal tract originates, as

the name implies, from cerebral cortex:
primary motor cortex, but also several
adjacent, functionally related areas.
The axons cross the midline at the
junction between medulla and spinal
cord. They synapse upon spinal cord
motoneurons, but also upon spinal
interneurons in dorsal as well as
ventral horns. The fibers in the tract
are laid out in an orderly map, both in
brainstem, as you will learn later, and
in spinal cord. In both structures, fibers
controlling the arm are located more
medially, fibers controlling the leg are
located more laterally (see wiring
diagram that follows).
 The pyramidal motor system (corticospinal
plus corticobulbar tracts) originates
from more than just primary motor
cortex, and synapses on more than just
lower motor neurons.
The pyramidal motor system is the only
"straight-line" descending pathway.
The "extrapyramidal" motor
system, that is, the sum total of all
parts of the motor system other than
the pyramidal (and also excluding the
cerebellum, which is a thing unto
itself) descends in stages, with several
synaptic way stations or intermediate
integrating structures on the way down.
Many descending pathways from cerebral
cortex do not join the pyramidal system,
but influence the activity of the
extrapyramidal system by synapsing
upon its intermediate integrating
structures.
The human extrapyramidal system exerts its
effect on voluntary movement primarily
by influencing the activity of the
pyramidal system!
 The cerebellum is an important part of
the higher order motor system.
However, unlike the parts of the motor
system we have already described, the
cerebellum does not itself initiate any
movements. Instead, the cerebellum
has a powerful ordering, regulating, and
patterning influence upon voluntary
movements initiated in the motor areas
of the cerebral cortex. We infer this
influence by observing how voluntary
motor functions are altered, impaired,
or even lost, in specific lesions of the
cerebellum and/or its connections.

Common motor pathway

COMMON MOTOR
PATHWAY

THE PYRAMIDAL SYSTEM

The Motor System consists of those parts of the Brain and Spinal Cord that control Skeletal
Muscles
There are 3 functional components (Pyramidal, Extrapyramidal, Cerebellar systems) and a
Common Motor Pathway (Motor neurons in nuclei of cranial nerves and anterior horn of spinal
cord = Lower Motor neurons)

Extrapyramidal System Pyramidal System Cerebellar System

Gross, Automatic, Voluntary Precise, Skilled, Voluntary Monitoring, Modulating

Movements Movements Movements
1. Corticospinal
2. Corticobulbar
(Upper Motor Neuron)
Rigidity Spasticity Hypotonia / Asthenia
Bradykinesia / Hyperkinesia Paresis / Paralysis Asynergia
(Abnormal Movements) (Abnormal Reflexes) (Abnormal Coordination)
- Resting tremor - Hoffmann - Intention tremor
- Chorea - Tromner - Dysmetria
- Athetose - Babinski - Adiadochokinesia
- Hemibalism etc. - Openheim etc. - Dysarthria etc.

Nucleus / Anterior horn Flaccid para/paresis

(Lower Motor Neuron) Hypo/Areflexia
Atrophy
Fasciculation
 Extrapyramidal System Pyramidal System Cerebellar System

Gross, Automatic, Voluntary Precise, Skilled, Voluntary Monitoring, Modulating Movements

Movements Movements

1. Corticospinal
2. Corticobulbar
(Upper Motor Neuron)

Rigidity Spasticity Hypotonia / Asthenia

Bradykinesia / Hyperkinesia Paresis / Paralysis Asynergia
(Abnormal Movements) (Abnormal Reflexes) (Abnormal Coordination)

- Resting tremor - Hoffmann - Intention tremor

- Chorea - Tromner - Dysmetria
- Athetose - Babinski - Adiadochokinesia
- Hemibalism etc. - Openheim etc. - Dysarthria etc.

Nucleus / Anterior horn Flaccid para/paresis

(Lower Motor Neuron) Hypo/Areflexia
Atrophy
Fasciculation
The pyramidal motor system (corticospinal plus
corticobulbar tracts) originates from more
than just primary motor cortex, and
synapses on more than just lower motor
neurons.
The pyramidal motor system is the only
"straight-line" descending pathway.

Precise, Skilled, Voluntary movements

Spasticity = hypertonicity + hyper reflexia

(The claspknife phenomenon)
Paresis or Paralysis

Abnormal reflexes:
Upperlimb; Tromner, Hoffman
Lowerlimb; Babinski, Oppenheim, Chaddock
 The "extrapyramidal" motor system, that
is, the sum total of all parts of the motor
system other than the pyramidal (and also
excluding the cerebellum, which is a thing
unto itself) descends in stages, with several
synaptic way stations or intermediate
integrating structures on the way down.
Many descending pathways from cerebral cortex
do not join the pyramidal system, but
influence the activity of the extrapyramidal
system by synapsing upon its intermediate
integrating structures.
Rigidity= hypertonicity + normal reflexes
(cogsweel phenomenon)
Bradykinesia / Hyperkinesia
(Abnormal Movements)
Resting tremor
Chorea
Athetosis
Hemibalism etc.
The cerebellum is an important part of
the higher order motor system.
However, unlike the parts of the motor
system we have already described, the
cerebellum does not itself initiate any
movements. Instead, the cerebellum
has a powerful ordering, regulating,
and patterning influence upon
voluntary movements initiated in the
motor areas of the cerebral cortex. We
infer this influence by observing how
voluntary motor functions are altered,
impaired, or even lost, in specific
lesions of the cerebellum and/or its
connections.
Hypotonia / Asthenia
Anynergia (abnormal coordination)
Intention tremor, Dysmetria,
Adiadochokinasia, Dysarthria etc.
 THE COMMON MOTOR PATHWAY
(LOWER MOTOR NEURON)

THE LOWER MOTOR NEURON

Flaccid paralysis/paresis
Hypo/Areflexia
Atrophy
Fasciculation
THANK YOU