EXSS1029 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Upper Motor Neuron, Alpha Motor Neuron, Premotor Cortex

• School: University of Sydney
• Department: Exercise and Sport Science
• Course: EXSS1029
• Professor: Dr Tom Gwinn

Document Summary

Consists of upper and lower motor neurons which innervate the muscle fibers. Innervation occurs at synapse (neuron to neuron) Communication between neuron and muscle fiber occurs at neuromuscular junction. Upper motor neuron (from brain stem) > lower motor neuron (connects neuron to muscle) Action potential arises during communication between ends of 2 neurons and between 2 muscle fibres. Used during communication between 2 neurons and neuron to muscle fibre. Neurotransmitter released by one end and binds to receptor on other end. Lower motor neurons: alpha motor neurons *, beta motor neurons, gamma motor neurons. Upper motor neuron > alpha motor neuron > muscle fibre. The motor neuron plus all of the fibres it innervates (mu) Motor cortex received input from other areas of the brain (eg. premotor cortex) Upper motor neurons originate in the motor cortex > spinal cord > alpha motor neuron.