NBB 302 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Alpha Motor Neuron, Cerebellum, Primary Motor Cortex

• School: Emory University
• Department: Neuroscience & Behavioral Sci
• Course: NBB 302
• Professor: Gillian Hue

Document Summary

Looking at tainted drug that caused quick onset of parkinson"s: more similar to structure to meperidine - synthetic opioid that creates heroin sensation, called this new drug - mptp - is selectively toxic for dopaminergic cells. Significance of understanding and discovering mptp: a way to cause a parkinsonian animal - led to new treatment methods for parkinson"s disease. The anatomy and control of motor structures: motor system is organized hierarchically with spinal cord, subcortex, and cerebral cortex, lowest level - spinal cord: local circuits made up of motor neurons and interneurons. Point of contact between nervous system and muscles. Produce simple reflexive movements: middle level: primary motor cortex and brainstem structures, work with cerebellum and basal ganglia. Effector: part of body that can move: muscles have elastic fibers that are attached to skeleton at joins and arranged in antagonist pairs - enable effector to flex or extend.