NeuroPT I - Motor Control, Learning and Development

Practice flashcards covering motor control, neuroanatomy of the CNS and PNS, spinal tracts, and somatosensory receptors based on the CPT 25 lecture notes.

Motor Control

The study of posture and movements that are controlled by central commands and spinal reflexes, measured in milliseconds.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain (cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, thalamus) and the spinal cord.

Prosencephalon

Also known as the forebrain, it embryologically divides into the telencephalon and the diencephalon.

Telencephalon

A division of the forebrain that contains the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia.

Frontal Lobe

The part of the cerebral cortex responsible for intelligence, memory, voluntary movement, and emotion.

Parietal Lobe

The cerebral lobe responsible for tactile and proprioceptive sensation.

Temporal Lobe

The cerebral lobe responsible for auditory, speech, language, and gestation.

Occipital Lobe

The cerebral lobe primary responsible for vision.

Basal Ganglia

A collection of motor neurons responsible for the refinement of motor movement and fine motor movement of the body.

Neostriatum

A functional division of the basal ganglia consisting of the Caudate Nucleus and the Putamen; damage leads to chorea.

Lenticular Nucleus

A basal ganglia structure consisting of the Globus Pallidus and the Putamen.

Huntington’s Chorea

A condition specifically associated with damage to the Caudate Nucleus.

Ballismus

A movement disorder resulting from damage to the Subthalamic Nucleus.

Parkinson’s Disease

A disease resulting from damage to the Basal Ganglia, specifically the Substantia Nigra.

Thalamus

A diencephalon structure that serves as a center for all sensations except the sense of smell.

Hypothalamus

A diencephalon structure that regulates the ANS and endocrine system, serving as the hormone and satiety (fullness/emptiness) center.

Midbrain (Mesencephalon)

A solo structure that connects the pons to the cerebrum and contains Cranial Nerves $III$ and $IV$.

Archicerebellum

Also known as the Flocculonodular Lobe, it is primarily responsible for balance.

Paleocerebellum

Also known as the Anterior Cerebellum, it is responsible for stereotypical repetitive movement.

Neocerebellum

Also known as the Posterior Cerebellum, it is responsible for coordination.

Pons

Considered an apneustic and pneumotaxic center responsible for respiration; it houses Cranial Nerves $V$ to $VIII$.

Medulla Oblongata

The myelencephalon structure that connects the brainstem to the spinal cord and serves as the cardiac and vasomotor center.

Limbic System

Also called the visceral brain or fifth lobe, it is involved in emotions, behavior, and retaining short/long term memory.

Substantia Gelatinosa

A layer in the spinal cord corresponding to Rexed Lamina $II$.

Anterior Spinothalamic Tract

An ascending tract responsible for light/crude touch and pressure; it is responsible for closing the gate.

Lateral Spinothalamic Tract

An ascending tract responsible for pain and temperature; it opens the gate.

Fasciculus Cuneatus

A division of the dorsal column responsible for sensation from the Upper Extremity (UE).

Fasciculus Gracilis

A division of the dorsal column responsible for sensation from the Lower Extremity (LE).

Spinocerebellar Tract

A tract that transmits unconscious proprioception from the spinal cord to the cerebellum and does not cross.

Corticospinal Tract

Also known as the Pyramidal Tract, it is responsible for voluntary movement.

Vestibulospinal Tract

An extrapyramidal tract responsible for postural reflexes and the extensor muscles of the UE.

Rubrospinal Tract

An extrapyramidal tract responsible for the flexor muscles of the UE.

Tectospinal Tract

An extrapyramidal tract responsible for the visuospinal reflex, involving reflex head turning in response to moving stimuli.

Brodmann’s Area 4

The primary motor area located in the frontal lobe.

Brodmann’s Area 44

Broca's area, responsible for speech production.

Wernicke’s Area

Brodmann’s Area $22$, located in the temporal lobe.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The ergotropic, catabolic 'fight and flight' system with thoracolumbar outflow from $T2-L3$.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The topotrophic, anabolic 'rest and digest' system with craniosacral segments.

Alpha Motor Neuron

The largest motor neuron and final common pathway; damage results in a flaccid state of muscle.

Gamma Motor Neuron

Part of the fusimotor system loop responsible for adjusting muscle length during contraction to maintain a constant state of readiness.

Astrocytes

Neuroglia that act as electrical insulators and form the blood-brain barrier.

Oligodendrocytes

Neuroglia responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Choroidal Epithelial Cells

Cells that cover the choroid plexus and are responsible for producing and secreting Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF).

Group A Fibers

Large diameter, heavily myelinated nerve fibers that transmit impulses at a rate of $150\,\text{m/s}$.

Group C Fibers

Smallest diameter, unmyelinated nerve fibers that transmit impulses at a rate of $1\,\text{m/s}$ and are least sensitive to anesthesia.

Meissner’s Corpuscles

Encapsulated receptors found in hairless (glabrous) skin responsible for fine tactile discrimination and stereognosis.

Pacinian Corpuscles

The largest encapsulated receptors that are most rapidly adapting and detect deep pressure and vibration.

Merkel’s Tactile Disk

Non-encapsulated, slow-adapting touch-pressure receptors sensitive to slow movement across the skin surface.