Nervous system - Lecture Twenty Three : Neurophysiology III - Motor control

4 important questions on Nervous system - Lecture Twenty Three : Neurophysiology III - Motor control

What is the definition of a reflex ?

A reflex is a predictable, reproducible, automatic response to a particular sensory stimulus

What is a stretch reflex - Include all features involved ?

  • Muscle spindles (stretch receptors) in the quadriceps senses the stretch which is caused by the tapping of the patellar tendon.
  • This sensory information is carried by sensory neurons which synapses in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
  • An interneuron connects the sensory neuron in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord to the motor neuron in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.
  • The motor neuron innervates quadriceps femoris, innervating them and causing them to contract to prevent further stretch.

What is the role of the Cerebellum ?

  • The cerebellum is the chief coordinator of the brain. It coordinates movement, guided by sensory feedback.
  • It receives a copy of the "motor instructions" from the motor cortex and compares it to the sensory feedback about movement.
  • It makes corrective motor action if required.
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What is the role of the Basal Ganglia ?

  • These deep nuclei within the cerebrum modify movement using a "loop" system within the cortex and help to select appropriate movements for particular situations.
  • At rest, they inhibit the motor cortex.
  • When we decide to move, the motor cortex sends inhibitory signals to the basal ganglia- inhibiting the inhibition of the muscles we want to move.

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