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Motor Unit Reflexes
2/1 Yates Lecture
187
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Graduate
02/28/2011

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Term
Consists of a single alpha motor neuron, including all branches of the axon, and all the muscle fibers innervated by that alpha motor neuron.
Definition
Motor Unit
Term
Does more muscle fibers result in a larger or smaller motor unit?
Definition
Larger
Term
Name the 3 primary muscle types
Definition
Skeletal
Cardiac
Smooth
Term
This type of muscle is multinucleated, striated, and helps to move bones.
Definition
Skeletal muscle
Term
Innervated by a single motor neuron
Definition
Muscle fiber
Term
Does 1 motor neuron innervated more than one muscle fiber?
Definition
Yes
Term
Each muscle fiber is innervated by what?
Definition
A single motor neuron
Term
A single motor neuron can innervate one or more muscle fibers?
Definition
More than one
Term
The size of what is dependent on the number of muscle fibers contained within it?
Definition
motor unit
Term
Motor unit size varies for each ___
Definition
Muscle
Term
Muscle involved in skilled movements requiring fine control have a very low ratio of what?
Definition
Muscle fibers to motor neuron
Term
Muscles requiring fine control have large or small sized motor units?
Definition
Small
Term
List a few examples of muscles requiring fine control.
Definition
The muscles of the middle ear (stapedius, tensor tympani) and the extraocular muscles of the eye which may contain as few as 1-5 muscle fibers per motor neuron.
Term
Muscles involved in less precise, more forceful movements have very high ratios of what?
Definition
Muscle fibers to motor neurons
Term
Do muscles used for forceful movements have larger or smaller motor units?
Definition
Larger
Term
Name a few muscles that are used for forceful movements.
Definition
Gastroc
Quads
Tibialis Anterior
Term
These types of muscles can contain as many as 500 to 1000 muscle fibers per motor neuron.
Definition
Forceful movement (Gross) muscles
Term
Activation of how many motor neurons results in contraction of ALL muscle fibers within that motor unit?
Definition
One
Term
Activation of one motor neuron results in contraction of all muscle fibers within what?
Definition
that motor unit
Term
Name 2 characterizations of muscle fibers
Definition
1. Type of myosin present
2. Type of energy metabolism used
Term
Are all muscle fibers in a motor unit of the same fiber type?
Definition
Yes
Term
A combination of motor neuron and all of the muscle cells that it innervates.
Definition
Motor Unit
Term
Each muscle cell is innervated by how many alpha motor neurons?
Definition
1 (one)
Term
How many muscle cells can 1 alpha motor neuron innervate within the same muscle?
Definition
Many
Term
There are several different muscle fiber types found in skeletal muscle. They are distinguished how? (3)
Definition
Histochemically
Metabolically
Morphologically
Term
Name the 3 types of muscle fibers
Definition
Type I
Type IIa
Type IIb
Term
How are muscle fibers classified?
Definition
Based upon the form of myosin
Term
A contractile protein
Definition
Myosin
Term
This muscle fiber type is designated for endurance activities and utilized for aerobic metabolism
Definition
Type I
Term
This muscle fiber type is found in motor unites which are fatique resistant, slow to contract, and produce low levels of tension.
Definition
Type I
Term
This type of muscle fiber is utilized for anaerobic (glucose) metabolism and are designed for rapid, powerful activities.
Definition
Type II
Term
What type of muscle fiber is found in motor units which are quite fatiguable, and produce very rapid, high tension contractions?
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Which muscle fiber type has heavy chain myosin, small diameter fibers, and a rich capillary supply?
Definition
Type I
Term
Which muscle fiber type has abundant mitochondria, aerobic metabolism, red in color, and slow to contract?
Definition
Type I
Term
Oxidative phosporylation is part of what type of metabolism?
Definition
Aerobic
Term
Why is Type I muscle fibers red in color?
Definition
because of myoglobin
Term
This muscle fiber type has low levels of tension and is fatigue reststant.
Definition
Type I
Term
Give an example of muscles that are made primarily of Type I muscle fibers.
Definition
Trunk postural muscles
Term
Which muscle fiber type has heavy chain myosin, large diameter fibers, large somas, and a sparse capillary supply?
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Which type of muscle fiber has few mitochondria, anaerobic metabolism, rich glycogen stores, white in color, and rapid, high tension contractions.
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Why are Type IIb muscle fibers white in color?
Definition
Lack of myoglobin
Term
This type of muscle fatigues quickly but produces rapid, high tension contractions.
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Give an example of muscles that use primarily Type IIb muscle fibers.
Definition
Gastroc, quads "Power Ms"
Term
This type of muscle fiber has heavy chain myosin, medium diameter fibers, a rich capillary supply, and moderate amounts of mitochondria.
Definition
Type IIa
Term
Which muscle fiber type uses aerobic/anaerobic metabolism depending on which one is needed?
Definition
Type IIa
Term
Which type of muscle fiber is rich is glyogen stores and is intermediate in tension and fatigue.
Definition
Type IIa
Term
Name the 3 categories in which motor units classified.
Definition
Slow Twitch
Fast Twitch Fatigable
Fast Twitch Resistant
Term
The neuron innervating the motor unit determines the motor unit and what?
Definition
the muscle fiber type
Term
This type of motor unit contains small, slowly discharging motorneurons that innervate slow, oxidative myofibers (Type I) that are involved in functions such as maintaining posture.
Definition
Slow Twitch
Term
When an activity requires only slight tension, varying numbers of ___ myofibers are activated by the motoneuron.
Definition
Slow
Term
What type of motor unit contains Type IIa myofibers?
Definition
Fast Twitch fatigue resistant
Term
What type of motor unit contains Types IIb myofibers?
Definition
Fast Twitch fatiguable
Term
With an increased demand for tension, speed and power, these large motoneurons begin to fire first.
Definition
Fast Twitch fatigue resistant
Term
Which an increased demand for tension, speed and power, fast twitch fatigue resistant motor units are fired first then followed by what type?
Definition
Fast twitch fatiguable
Term
When a muscle in denervated, what do the muscle fibers tend to convert to?
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Which motor unit type consists of slow oxidative skeletal muscle that responds well to repetitive stimulation without getting fatigued.
Definition
Slow Twitch
Term
Give an example of a slow twitch motor unit muscle?
Definition
Posture muscles
Term
This type of motor unit consists of fast oxidative skeletal muscles which respond well to repetitive stimulation without getting fatigued.
Definition
Fast Twitch Fatigue Resistant
Term
Give an example of a fast twitch fatigue resistant muscle.
Definition
Walking muscle
Term
This motor unit type is made of fast glycolytic skeletal muscle that is used for quick bursts of strong activation.
Definition
Fast twitch fatiguable
Term
What would you use fast twitch fatiguable motor units for?
Definition
Jumping or sprinting
Term
Slow twitch motor units innervate what type of muscle fiber?
Definition
Type I
Term
Fast twitch fatige resistant innervates what muscle fiber?
Definition
Type IIa
Term
Fast twitch fatiguable motor units innervate what muscle fiber type?
Definition
Type IIb
Term
Name 3 things about motor unit size.
Definition
1. Number of fibers
2. Varies for each muscle
3. Affects function of muscles
Term
Are large motor units for gross or fine motor skills?
Definition
Gross
Term
Are small motor units for gross or fine motor skills?
Definition
Fine
Term
In skeletal muscle, ATP production via substrate phosphorylation is supplemented by the availability of what?
Definition
Creatine Phosphate
Term
Skeletal muscles' capacity to produce ATP via __ __ is further supplemented by the availability of molecular oxygen bound to intracellular myoglobin.
Definition
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Term
The default pheotype
Definition
Type IIb
Term
What do you lose when you increase the size of the motor unit?
Definition
Fine motor control
Term
What does loss of motor innervation to a motor unit result in?
Definition
It results in the remaining nerve fibers sending collateral processes to the denervated motor unit
Term
When there is a loss of motor innervation to a motor unit, what ultimately happens?
Definition
There is an increase of muscle fibers in the motor unit. Muscular function is retained at the expense of control.
Term
What type of muscle fibers are recruited first?
Definition
Small diameter (Type I)
Term
A state of continued contraction of the muscle fiber.
Definition
Tetanus
Term
Type of tetanus that occurs when there is no relaxation whatsoever.
Definition
Fused Tetanus
Term
Type of tetanus that occurs when there are tiny bits of relaxation that occurs.
Definition
Unfused tetanus
Term
Increased number of motor units involved in contraction
Definition
Summation/Recruitment of motor units
Term
Name 2 things that recruitment allows
Definition
Increased tension
A movement to be continuous and smooth
Term
During motor unit recruitment, do motor units fire in synchrony?
Definition
No, they fire asynchronously
Term
What does it mean to say that motor units fire asynchronously?
Definition
While one is contracting, another one may be relaxing
Term
The normal recruitment order begins with the motor unit producing the ___ tension
Definition
Lowest
Term
What is the last of the motor units to be recruited?
Definition
Highest tension
Term
How do you decrease the force?
Definition
By going in reverse order. So starting with the highest tension to the lowest tension
Term
In some rapid movements, that motor units type may not be used?
Definition
Slow twitch
Term
Increasing stimulus frequency of a single motor neuron
Definition
Wave summation
Term
Can be increased by increasing the firing frequency of the motor neuron (and hence the motor unit)
Definition
Muscle tension
Term
Application of a single action potential results in what in the motor unit?
Definition
A signle contraction-relaxation cycle
Term
If a second stimulus is applied during the relaxation phase of a twitch what happens?
Definition
a second contraction-relaxation cycle is immediately initiated
Term
Is the maximum force developed in the second cycle greater or smaller than that developed during the first cycle?
Definition
Greater
Term
Can 2 contractions summate?
Definition
Yes
Term
The summation of contractions occurs when stimulation frequencies reach what per second?
Definition
~10 per second
Term
As the frequency of stimulation is increased, the developed force continues to sum until what is reached?
Definition
Maximum developed force
Term
Once a maximum developed force is reached, the individual contraction-relaxation cycles fuse to produce a single smooth curve called what?
Definition
Tetanus
Term
Occurs in skeletal muscle because the refractory period is short relative to the contraction time.
Definition
Tetanus
Term
The time during which the tissue does not respond to a second stimulus.
Definition
Refractory Period
Term
Where a muscle can be stimulated to contract again before it relaxes from the previous contraction.
Definition
Tetanus
Term
Is it rare in a muscle that either multiple motor unit summation or wave summation occur separately from one another?
Definition
Yes
Term
Since it is rare that multiple motor unit summation occurs separately from one another, what usually occurs?
Definition
reflex mechanism in the spinal cord normally increase both the impulse rate and the number of motor units firing at the same time.
Term
Even when motor units twitch at very low frequencies, the resulting muscle contraction is smooth although ___.
Definition
Weak
Term
Fibers in the muscle spindle are in parallel with what?
Definition
Muscle fibers
Term
What is the simplest of all the spinal cord reflexes?
Definition
Monosynaptic Stretch Reflex
Term
Another term for monosynaptic stretch reflex
Definition
Deep tendon reflex (DTR)
Term
What is the peripheral receptor for the monosynaptic stretch reflex?
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
A sensory receptor found in the skeletal muscle that monitors and assists in regulating muscle movements.
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
A sensory receptor for the muscle that makes you contract and is enclosed in connective tissue.
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
Where are infrafusal muscle fibers?
Definition
Within the muscle spindle
Term
Sends afferent informaiton to the dorsal horn and receives information from the ventral horn from alpha motor neurons and gamma motor neurons.
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
How many muscle fibers is contained within one muscle spindle?
Definition
2-14
Term
What is a muscle spindle enclosed in?
Definition
a connective tissue capsule
Term
Since the fibers of a muscle spindle are enclosed within a capsule, they are called what?
Definition
Intrafusal muscle fibers
Term
Each muscle spindle is attached at both ends to what?
Definition
Extrafusal muscle fibers
Term
Each muscle spindle lies in parallel with what?
Definition
Extrafusal fibers
Term
One end of the muscle spindle is attached to the ___ of the extrafusal fiber, and the other end is attached to the ___.
Definition
Endomysium
Perimysium
Term
Does all connective tissue of the muscle blend together and extend to the muscle tendon?
Definition
Yes
Term
A stretch to the extrafusal muscle with cause the muscle spindle to be stretched. Why?
Definition
Because they are attached and run parallel with one another
Term
Sensitive to changes in length and the rate of change in length of extrafusal fibers
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
Each intrafusal muscle fiber is composed to 2 regions.
Definition
Contractile Region
Equatorial Region
Term
Striated muscle located on each end of the fiber
Definition
Contractile region
Term
Non-contractile region located in the center of each fiber; cell nuclei are located here
Definition
Equatorial region
Term
2 different types of intrafusal fibers exist structurally.
Definition
Nuclear bag fiber
Nuclear chain fiber
Term
How are nuclear bag and nuclear chain fibers differentiated?
Definition
based upon the shape of the equatorial region
Term
What does the equatorial region look like in the nuclear bag fibers?
Definition
bag-shaped
Term
What does the equatorial region of a nuclear chain fiber look like?
Definition
long and slender
Term
Each muscle spindle has both __ and __ innervation
Definition
Afferent (sensory)
Efferent (motor)
Term
This type of innervation is supplied by type Ia and type II sensory neurons
Definition
Sensory (afferent)
Term
What 2 types supply the sensory innervation to the muscle spindle
Definition
Type 1a
Type II
Term
Axons of the sensory neurons can either wrap around the center (Type __) or terminate near the edges (Type __) of the equatorial region of the intrafusal fibers.
Definition
Type Ia
Type II
Term
Do the intrafusal fibers stretch when the extrafusal fibers are stretched?
Definition
Yes
Term
When the intrafusal fibers stretch, what does this compress?
Definition
The equatorial region
Term
When the intrafusal fibers are stretched, what does this discharge?
Definition
The sensory axons
Term
This type of neuron responds to changes in length and the rate of change in length of the extrafusal muscle.
Definition
Type Ia
Term
This type is most responsive to a quick stretch of the extrafusal muscle
Definition
Type Ia
Term
What happens with activation of a Type Ia fiber?
Definition
A quick, strong contraction of the stretched muscle
Term
This type of fiber innervates the very end of the capsule
Definition
Type II
Term
This type of fiber comes from the central part of the muscle spindle
Definition
Type Ia
Term
The non-contractile part of the muscle spindle
Definition
Type Ia
Term
The contractile part of the muscle spindle
Definition
Type II
Term
This type of fiber is responsive to changes in muscle length and are activated by a slower stretch of the muscle near its physiological limits
Definition
Type II
Term
What does activation of Type II fibers result in?
Definition
A maintained contraction of a stretched muscle which lasts as long as the muscle stretch
Term
What are the motor neurons innervating the muscle spindle? They are small neurons with small myelinated axons.
Definition
Gamma motor neurons
Term
Where are the cell bodies of the gamma motor neurons located?
Definition
Ventral horn of spinal cord
Term
Where do the axons of gamma motor neurons terminate?
Definition
On the contractile regions of the intrafusal muscle fibers
Term
Are gamma motor neurons afferent or efferent?
Definition
Efferent
Term
What happens when the gamme motor neurons innervating the muscle spindle are activated?
Definition
the intrafusal muscle fiber of the spindle contracts and shortens the length of the spindle
Term
What is the role of the gamma system?
Definition
to permit the muscle spindle to maintain its sensitivity over a wide range of muscle lengths
Term
When the alpha motor neuron fires, causing contraction and shortening of the extrafusal muscle, what happens to the gamma motor neuron?
Definition
It is activated simultaneously to shorten the muscle spindle
Term
What contracts and shortens when the alpha motor neuron fires?
Definition
Extrafusal muscle
Term
What contracts and shortens when the gamma motor neuron fires?
Definition
Muscle spindle
Term
True/False: The spindle maintains a length which is proportional to the extrafusal muscle so that the spindle remains sensitive to stretch the extrafusal muscle, regardless of the starting length of the muscle.
Definition
true
Term
Type Ia and II bring sensory information thru ____ then onto the ___ to then synapse on alpha and gamma motor neurons.
Definition
DRG (dorsal root ganglion)
dorsal root
Term
Is a reflex conscious?
Definition
No it is unconscious
Term
What is another term for a deep tendon reflex?
Definition
myotatic or muscle stretch reflex
Term
What does monosynaptic mean?
Definition
one synapse
Term
Composed of sensory (afferent) limb and motor (efferent) limb with a synapse between the two limbs in the ventral horn of the spinal cord
Definition
DTR
Term
This limb of the DTR is composed of type Ia sensory neuron from the muscle spindle which responds to a quick stretch of the muscle
Definition
Sensory (afferent)
Term
These fibers synapse in the area of the spinal cord of the ventral horn on alpha motor neurons innervating the stimulated muscle and its agonists
Definition
Type Ia
Term
Where a muscle that is already partially stretched is activated by a quick stretch
Definition
Autogenic Facilitation
Term
Where Type Ia fibers synapse on alpha motor neurons innervating the stimulated muscle and its agonists (efferent limb) to get a quick contraction of the muscle
Definition
Autogenic Facilitation
Term
Where in the spinal cords are interneurons located?
Definition
Intermediate Zone
Term
During activation of the monosynaptic stretch reflex, a second mechanism is activated. What is it called.
Definition
Reciprocal Inhibition
Term
Mediated by collaterals of the Ia afferent and serves to protect the antagonist muscle from being suddenly stretched and opposing the agonist.
Definition
Reciprocal Inhibition
Term
At the same time the Ia afferent activates the alpha motor neurons, ___ from the Ia afferent activate Ia inhibitory interneurons in the ventral horn.
Definition
collaterals
Term
Once the inhibitory interneurons are activated what happens?
Definition
They inhibit the alpha motor neurons of the antagonist muscle
Term
So if the biceps brachii muscle tendon is tapped quickly with a reflex hammer, the biceps muscle (agonist) ___ while the triceps muscle (antagonist) ____.
Definition
Contracts
Is Inhibited
Term
A second sensory receptor in the muscle
Definition
GTO
Term
Provides proprioceptive information from skeletal muscle and mediates a reflex whcih protects the muscle from excessive tension which could result in a tear injury
Definition
GTO
Term
Located at the musculotendinous junction
Definition
GTO
Term
Composed of a connective tissue capsule through which travel several extrafusal muscle fibers
Definition
GTO
Term
What registers tension in the muscle (like a contraction or a stretch near the physiological limits of motion)
Definition
GTO
Term
Once tension is registered by GTO, where is the information conveyed to?
Definition
inhibitory interneurons in the spinal cord by Ib afferents
Term
Inhibitory interneurons inhibit the alpha motor neurons to the same muscle, resulting in inhibition of the muscle which is known as what?
Definition
Autogenic Inhibition
Term
Anytime you are trying to maintain stability what are you doing?
Definition
Co-contracting normally
Term
Walking and stepping on a tack is a situation for what type of reflex?
Definition
Flexor Withdrawal Reflex
Term
The flexor withdrawal reflex is initiated by cutaneous input which activates what 2 types of pain fibers?
Definition
A delta and C pain fibers
Term
Are A delta and C pain fibers afferent or efferent?
Definition
afferent (sensory)
Term
A delta and c pain fibers transmit pain information to what?
Definition
dorsal horn
Term
When the pain fibers send information to the dorsal horn what eventually happens?
Definition
Activation of excitatory interneurons to synapse on motor neurons to ipsilateral flexor muscles and activation of inhibitory interneurons to synapse on motor neurons of the ipsilateral extensory muscles
Term
Flexion of ipsilateral limb away from the sourse of pain. Inhibition of the extensors on the ipsilateral side.
Definition
Flexor Withdrawal Reflex
Term
Brings in sensory information to the dorsal horn to tell flexors to activate and to inhibit the extensory
Definition
pain fibers
Term
This reflex occurs simultaneously with the flexor withdrawal reflex
Definition
Crossed extension reflex
Term
Is the crossed extension reflex necessary if a flexor withdrawal reflex is activated?
Definition
YES, if it is a weight bearing limb
Term
Activation of the crossed extension reflex are the same or different nociceptors stimulated in the flexor withdrawal reflex?
Definition
Same
Term
Nociceptors that activate interneurons in the ipsilateral spinal cord also cause activation of interneurons on the ___ side of the spinal cord
Definition
contralateral
Term
Activation of both ____ interneurons innervating contralateral extensors and ___ interneurons innervating contralateral flexors occurs.
Definition
Excitatory
Inhibitory
Term
What is the result of the crossed extension reflex?
Definition
Extension of the contralateral limb to provide support to the body as the ipsilateral limb is flexed away from the pain
Term
Loss of reciprocal inhibition results in co-contraction of muscles. This can be seen in what disorder.
Definition
CP
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