Motor Functions and Motoneuron Damage

Flashcards covering the semiotics, localization of damage, and clinical signs of central and peripheral motor neuron lesions.

Central motor neuron lesion signs

Symptoms include spastic tone, hyperreflexia, the presence of pathological reflexes, and clonus of the feet and kneecaps.

Peripheral motor neuron lesion signs

Symptoms include muscle hypotonia (decreased muscle tone) or atony, decreased tendon reflexes, muscle hypotrophy, "bioelectric silence" on EMG, and a muscle degeneration reaction.

Internal capsule damage

A localization of lesion that results in symptoms such as hemiplegia and hemianesthesia.

Cerebral cortex damage

A localization of lesion that typically results in monoparesis.

Spinal cord damage

A localization of lesion that typically results in paraparesis.

Peripheral nerve damage

A localization of lesion where the motor disturbance is restricted to the specific zone of innervation of the affected nerve.

Bioelectric silence

An EMG finding associated with damage to the peripheral motor neuron.

Muscle degeneration reaction

A specific reaction observed during the study of electrical excitability in cases of peripheral motor neuron damage.

Pathological pyramidal reflexes (Upper limb)

Reflexes that may appear in the upper limb including R. Rossolimo, R. Jacobson-Lyask, and R. Zhukovsky.

Pathological pyramidal reflexes (Lower limb)

Reflexes that may appear in the lower limb including R. Babinski, R. Oppenheim, and R. Schaeffer.

Hemiplegia

Paralysis of one side of the body, listed as a symptom of damage to the internal capsule.

Hemianesthesia

Loss of sensation on one side of the body, listed as a symptom of damage to the internal capsule.

Monoparesis

Weakness or paralysis of a single limb, associated with damage to the cerebral cortex.

Paraparesis

Weakness or partial paralysis of both lower limbs, associated with damage to the spinal cord.

Spastic tone

An increase in muscle tone that occurs when there is damage to the central motor neuron.

Muscle hypotrophy

The wasting or decrease in muscle size observed with damage to the peripheral motor neuron.

Peripheral motor neuron components

Includes the anterior horn, anterior root, plexuses, and peripheral nerves.