Test 2 Material Flashcards
(133 cards)
How many muscles does each motor neuron innervate?
Only one but many muscle fibers
What is a motor neuron pool?
A group of neurons that innervate a specific muscle
How are motor neuron pools organized?
In columns
For motor neurons, how is the ventral horn organized?
Topographically, medial to lateral does proximal to distal respectively
What muscles do the medial portions of the ventral horn innervate?
Proximal, close to body
Which part of the ventral horn innervates more distal muscles?
the lateral portion
Where on the ventral horn is innervation for finger and toe muscles?
The most lateral portion to of the midline.
Which pathways in the spinal cord control posture?
the medial part
Which pathways in the spinal cord control fine movement in extremities?
the lateral pathways
Where do local circuit neurons in the medial portion of the spinal cord terminate?
bilaterally
Where do local circuit neurons in the lateral part terminate?
ipsilateral
What do alpha motor neurons innervate?
the extrafusal muscle fibers
What are extrafusal muscle fibers?
force producing fibers
What do the extrafusal muscle fibers control?
posture and movement
What do gamma motor neurons innervate?
intrafusal muscle fibers
What do intrafusal muscle fibers control?
muscle tension
How many muscle fibers does an alpha motor neuron innervate?
Many but all in the same muscle
How does the force apply to a muscle when innervated by an alpha motor neuron?
Evenly
What is the benefit to alpha motor neurons innervating so many muscle fibers?
This reduces the chance that losing a single alpha motor neuron will create a big impact.
What generates the contraction?
the action potential
What is a motor unit?
the alpha motor neuron and the muscle fibers it innervates
What do group 1A afferents respond to?
phasically small stretches
What do Group IIA afferent respond to?
they fire to signal degree of sustained stretch
What does striking the patellar tendon stimulate?
stretch sensory receptors (i.e. muscle spindles)