Sensory Motor

In basic terms, what is an upper motor neuron lesion?

An injury that occurs in the neural pathway above the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord

In basic terms, what is a lower motor neuron lesion?

A lesion that affects the nerve fibers traveling from the lower motor neurons to the muscle

What symptom does both lower and upper motor neuron lesions have in common

muscle weakness

What are the Unique symptoms of upper motor neuron lesions?

Hyperreflexia, increased tone, and mild atrophy. There are no twitches present.

What are the unique symptoms of a lower motor neuron lesion?

Hypo or absent reflexes, very flaccid, significant atrophy, and slight twitches.

What does the pneumonic device WASH stand for?

Symptoms of UMN: Weakness, absent (atrophy) spasticity, hyperreflexia.

What is the cortical spinal tract pathway?

Motor cortex, then corona radiata, then internal capsule, then midbrain, then ponds, Decades at the medulla, then goes to contralateral limbs.

What is the function of the cortical spinal tract?

To provide voluntary motor function.

What tract is this?

Corticospinal tract

what is afferent

Toward (sensory is toward the brain)

What is efferent

Away (motor is away from the brain and to the muscles)

What are the DCML and Spinothalamic tracts?

afferent sensory tracts

What does the DCML carry?

Fine touch, vibration, proprioception

Where does the DCML decussate

Medulla

What is the DCML pathway?

Enters spinal cord and descends ipsilaterally, deucssates at medulla, then goes to thalamus VPL

Is the DCML contralateral

Yes

would a lesion to the DCML be ipsilateral or contralateral?

Ipsilateral if it’s in the spinal cord (before decussation) contralateral is after aka brain stem/thalamus

What senses does the spinal thalamic tract carry?

Pain, Crude touch, and temperature

Where does the spinothalamic tract decussate?

Almost immediately in the spine

Where does the spinothalamic tract first synapse?

Dorsal horn

What is the overall spinothalamic tract pathway?

It enters the spinal cord synopsis almost immediately at dorsal horn that sit in the spine, then ascends contralaterally to thalamus

What is a common upper motor neuron lesion?

Stroke, note that the forehead is spared

What is a common lower motor neuron lesion?

Bell’s palsy, note that the forehead is not spared

What you diagnose this person with?

Stroke

What would you diagnose this man with?

Bell’s palsy