General Information on UMN and LMN Lesions:

Motor neurons carry motor messages from different areas of the nervous system. Motor neurons
are divided into two categoires: UMN and LMN. An UMN carries motor messages from the
primary motor cortex to: the cranial nerve nuclei in the brainstem, interneurons in the ventral
horn. An UMN travels up to, but does not actually enter, the ventral horn. An UMN is
considered to be part of the CNS. A LMN carries motor messages from the motor cell bodies in
the ventral horn to the skeletal muscles in the periphery. A LMN is considered to be part of the
PNS. LMNs include the cranial nerves, spinal nerves, cauda equina, and the ventral horm.

Characteristics Associated with Upper Motor Neuron Lesions

Spasticity occurs below the lesion level. Spasticity occurs because the spinal reflex arcs
below the lesion level remain intact. The spinal reflex arcs operate without cortical
modification. Thus, increase muscle tone (or spasticity) occurs. Increased muscle stretch
reflexes. Presence of pathologic reflexes such as the Babinski and Hoffman
Flaccidity occurs at the lesion level. Flaccidity occurs because the spinal reflex arc at the
lesions level is lost. Thus, nothing is innervating the muscles. The muscles (at the lesion
level) lose all tone and become flaccid.
Muscle wasting - disuse atrophy

Characteristics Associated with Lower Motor Neuron Lesions

Flaccidity occurs at and below the lesion level. Flaccidity occurs in all LMN lesions
because a LMN does not involve any spinal reflex arcs. Because spinal reflex arcs are not
part of LMN lesions, there is nothing that continues to innervate the muscles. Decreased
muscle tone. Decreased or absence of muscle stretch reflexes. Pathologic reflexes
absent
Muscle wasting - neurogenic atrophy

Characteristics Associated with Sensory Lesions

Loss of pain sensation (lateral spinothalamic)

Loss of temperature sense (lateral spinothalamic)
Loss of crude - light touch (ventral spinothalamic)
Loss of pressure touch (dorsal columns)
Loss of position sense (dorsal columns)
Loss of vibration (dorsal columns)