Role of different levels of CNS in regulation of motor functions.

Role of spinal cord in regulation of motor

activity of human.
One of the major functions of CNS is to control motor activity of the organism.
Movement can be divided into:
-Voluntary
-Un-voluntary
-Simple (flexion, extension)
-Complex (language, mimics)
Motor functions of organism are maintained at different level of CNS, starting from spinal cord and up to brainstem and
cerebral cortex. Spinal cord plays a very significant role in control of body movements.
Spinal cord: cylindrically shaped 43-45cm bundle of nervous tissue
Segmental structure:
-8 cervical (C1-C8)
-12 thoracic (Th1-Th12)
-5 lumbar (L1-L5)
-5 sacral (S1-S5)
-1 coccygeal (Co1)
Segment is a part of spinal cord from which two pairs of roots (ventral and dorsal) on each side come out.
Bell-Magendie law
Dorsal (sensory root) contains afferent nerve fibers that carry information from periphery to CNS. Its damage leads to
loss of sensitiveness in the innervated are.
Ventral (motor) root contains efferent nerve fibers that carry information from CNS to effectors. Its damage leads to
paralysis in the innervated area.

Cross section of spinal cord

Gray matter is the central butterfly-shaped area and is composed of neurons cell bodies and short neurons externsions
(dendrites).
White matter surrounds the gray matter and is composed of myelinated axons of interneurons.
Dorsal (posterior) horn sensory input
Ventral (anterior) horn contains motor neurons
Lateral horn contains a vegetative neurons (present only from Th1-L5 segments)
Rexed laminae
1 to 4 - sensory laminae
5-8 interneurons
9 motor neurons (alpha and gamma)
10 commissural fibers
Functions of gray matter of spinal cord
1)to route sensory or motor stimulus to interneurons of the CNS
2)to form integrating centres of reflexes
Motor neurons that lie in anterior horns of gray matter r of two types:
1) alfa-motor neurons their axons form motor nerves (directly provide contraction)
2) gamma-motor neurons (Y) control muscle tone
97% of all neurons in gray matter are interneurons.
White matter of spinal cord is arranged in funiculi: ventral, dorsal, lateral
Axons in white matter connect different areas of gray matter and form nervous pathways (tracts)
a)Ascending (sponothalamic, spinocerebellar etc)
b)Descening (corticospinalis, vestiblospinalis etc)
Functions of white matter of spinal cord
1)to transmit information within parts of CNS
2)to connect different levels of spinal cord between themselves and with brain
Functions of spinal cord
1.Conductive spreading of impulses with the help of nervous pathways of white matter

2.Reflexive important integration centre for reflexes

If we need to examine specific functions of spinal cord we should separate spinal cord from upper levels of CNS (brainstem,
forebrain).
Reflexes if spinal cord:
1.Motor (somatic)
2.Vegetative
Motor reflexes can be:
a)Phasic (dynamic) motor reflexes that provide quick responses.
b)Tonic (static) motor reflexes that provide prolonged contractions thus creating tonus.
The tonic reflex
This reflex contributes to muscle tone and helps to maintain posture. This is myotatic reflex. Occur during stimulation of
muscular receptors. Provided by gamma efferent system (muscle spindle) of the spinal cord. Centers of these reflexes are
in a spinal cord. In the anterior horns of the spinal cord are two types of neurons L(alfa)-motor neurons and Y(gamma)motor neurons.
Muscle spindle is one type of proprioreceptor that provides information about changes in muscle length.
Structure of muscle spindle:
Muscle spindle consists of nuclear bag (connective-tissue capsule) with stretch (spiral) receptor (endings of afferent nerve
from stretch receptor to alpha motor-neuron) and intrafusal fibers. The skeletal-muscle fibers that form the bulk of the
muscle and generate its force and movement are the extrafusal fibers. The stretch (spiral) receptor are parallel to the
exrafusal fibers. Intrafusal fibers are innervated by gamma motor-neuron. Extrafusal fibers are innervated by alpha motorneuron.

Role of muscle spindles

Gamma efferent system consists of alpha and gamma motor neurons, muscle spindle and afferent neuron. Gamma
efferent system ensures the tensions of muscles. There are three ways of excitation of the spiral receptor:
1)relaxation of muscle
2)excitation of gamma motor neuron
3)passive extension of muscle
Relaxation of muscle extension of spiral receptor action potential transmits to the alpha motor neuron through
afferent neuron contraction of extrafusal fibers contraction of muscle
Excitation of gamma motor neuron contraction of intrafusal fibers extension of spiral receptor action potential
transmits to the alpha motor neuron through the afferent neuron contraction of extrafusal fibers contraction of
muscle
Passive extension of muscle extension of spiral receptor action potential transmits to the alpha motor neuron through
the afferent neuron contraction of extrafusal fibers contraction of muscle.
Role of muscle spindles

Classification of spinals reflexes

a)Stretch (myotatic) reflex is produced by activatin muscle spindles. Function maintaining postural stability,
countering sudden loads. Tonic reflec.
b)Stretch (myotatic) reflex (autogenic inhibition) is produced by activating Golgi tendon organs. Function
regulation of muscle tension, prevention of damage to tendon, bone. Monosynaptic reflex. Phasic reflex.
c)Stretch reciprocal reflexes (pain withdrawal, crosses extensor) are produced by activating cutaneous receptors,
nociceptors and have protective function. Phasic reflex.
Rhythmical reflexes scratching reflex phasic reflex
Locomotor reflexes (running, walking, swimming) - phasic reflexes
Clinically important stretch reflexes
Knee jerk reflex (L3-L4)
Ankle jerk reflex (Achilles) (S1-S2)
Plantar reflex (L5-S1)
Elbow jerk reflexes (C4-C5)
Abdominal skin reflexes (Th7-Th12)
Golgi tendon organ proprioreceptor
Receptors in tendons (Golgi tendons organs) react for the rension of muscles. Impulses from Golgi tendon organ transmit
to the alpha motor neuron through the afferent neuron and cause inhibition his. They also stimulate the motor neurons of
the antagonistic muscles. This reflex protects the tendon from rupture.
To summarize. The activity of afferent fibers from the Golgi tendon organ supplies the motor control system information
about the muscles tension. In contrast, the spindle afferent fibers provide information about the muscles degree of
stretch.
Role of Golgi tendon organs

Reciprocal reflexes (crossed extensor reflex)

Spinal shock
After separation of spinal cord from brain spinal shock occurs.
Spinal shock is manifested by disappearing of all motor activities and all kinds of sensitiveness (pain, touch, temperature)
in the areas of body that are located below the place of injury (!). In human spinal shock lasts for weeks or months.
Main cause of spinal shock blockage of excitatory influences of higher levels of CNS on spinal cords neuron.
Using tendon stretch reflexes helps to locate at what level injury of spinal cord is located.

One-sided damage of the spinal cord is named syndrome of Braun-Sekar -it is paralysis on the side of damage, loss of
pain and temperature sensitiveness on the lateral side and decrease of touch sensitiveness from both sides.