NSCI 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Upper Motor Neuron, Primary Motor Cortex, Betz Cell
12 Mar 2018
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Document Summary
Some material seen in the class were added. Upper motor neurons: cells bodies in brainstem or cerebral cortex. Essential for: the initiation of voluntary movement, complex spatiotemporal sequences of skilled movement, 2 main divisions: Important components: brodmann"s area 4 (primary motor cortex, brodmann"s area 6 (premotor cortex) Directing voluntary movements: brodmann"s area 26 in anterior cingulate gyrus governs facial expressions. Projections from motor cortex travel along the lateral white matter of the spinal cord: carry information for skilled voluntary movement. Receives input from basal ganglia, cerebellum and parietal lobe. Regulate muscle tone (posture), orientation of head, eyes, etc. as part of vestibular reflex arcs and automatic functions: rhythmic movements (ex: peristalsis in digestion, heartbeat, unconscious breathing) Projects to the medial ventral white matter of the spinal cord. Brainstem centers: targets of upper motor neurons local circuit neurons in intermediate zone of local circuit neurons + motor neural pools in lateral or medial ventral horn.
