Neuromuscular complex

- Basics of motor control

Petr Konecny
Kinesiology
•Neurophysiology /PK
•Biomechanic /MH
Motor nervous system

•Motor Unit (MU)

•Spinal nervous system
•Supraspinal (Brain Stem) Nervous System
•Cerebellum
•Motor centers of the TALAMU and Basal
Ganglia
•Cerebral cortex of the hemispheres
Motor Unit (MU)

• MU : Neuron + muscle fibers

• Neuromuscular system (complex)

• MU Small
(1 neuron + 7-10 muscle fibers)
Example: lubricales (fine and precise
works)

• MU Big (large)
(1 neuron + 100-1000 muscle fibers)
Examplne : Quadriceps femoris ,
latissimus dosrsi (strength works)
Spinal nervous system

• Anatomy
• Spinal cord
• Spinal roots - spinal nerve - spinal segment
• White matter (neural pathways )and gray matter (cells) of the
spinal cord
• Back corners (senzoric) and front corners (motoric) of the spinal
cord
• Cells: alpha MN, gama MN, interneuron, glia,…
• REFLEX - the basic function of the spinal cord
• Monosynaptic reflex
• Polysynaptic reflex
Reflex

= the basic functional unit of the NERVOUS SYSTEM

- The reflex is formed by a reflex arc:
- Receptor – afferent pathway – nervous center spinal
cord and brain) – efferent pathway – effector (muscle)
▪Reflex arc can be:
▪ Monosynaptic – there is only one synapse
between the afferent and efferent neuron
▪ Polysynaptic - there are many interneurons
between the afferent and efferent neuron
• According to the receptor we distinguish:
proprioceptive and exteroceptive reflexes
Proprioceptive Reflex

• Receptors:
• Muscle spindle (MS)
• Intrafusal fibers
• EQUATORIAL (CENTRAL) REGION
(Own receptor - bushy ending and chain (annulospiral)
ending)
• POLAR REGIONS (AREAS)
contractile fibers (gamma MN endings)
• Impulse - MS activation: STRETCHING Fibers
(stretching)
• Passive (hammer tapping of tendon reflexes)
• Active (using GAMA loop)
• Tendon body (Goldi)
• Reverse myotatic reflex - protection of the muscle
against overstretching
• ACTIVATION: PULL on the tendon
Proprioceptiv
reflex arc
• Proprioceptiv receptor (stretching of
the muscle spindle )
• afferent nerve fibers (IA and II)
conduct the nerve impulse to the
posterior horns of the spinal cord
• In the Center (spinal cord) - here
there is a switch from the centripetal
pathway (pseudounipolar cell) to the
Alpha motoneuron in the front
corners of the spinal cord
• The efferent pathway (axon of the
alpha motoneuron – peripheral
nerve) leads the impulse to the
effector (extrafusal muscle fibers)-
the muscle contracts.
• In the center (spinal cord) there are
also connections to other alpha
MNs, gamma MNs, interneurons, to
the brainstem, to the cerebellum, to
the thalamus and to the cortex.
Reciprocal inhibition/innervation
for a smooth course of movement, the activity of one muscle group is
simultaneously associated with the relaxation (inhibition) of the
respective antagonistic muscles - for example, alternating activation of
flexors and extensors

during walking, the flexors and extensors are activated reciprocally also
on the contralateral lower limb
Reverse myotatic reflex

- if the mechanical tension of the stretched muscle reaches a critical

size, the contraction suddenly stops and the muscle relaxes
• here: receptors are activated - Golgi tendon bodies, which register
increased tendon (and muscle) tension
• with the help of inhibitory interneurons in the spinal cord, the
activity of alpha motoneurons is dampened (inhibited).
Gamma loop
- From the Reticular Formation
(brainstem) pathways go to gamma
motoneurons in the spinal cord →
After the activation of the gamma
motoneurons, the impulses go to the
muscle spindle
- there is a contraction of the polar
regions of the muscle spindle, and
thus the stretching of the entire
muscle spindle →
- this activates the proprioceptive arc
→
- through the reflex arc, the stimulus
is transferred to the alpha
motoneuron → a contraction
(adjustment) of the extrafusal fibers
of the muscle occurs
Gamma systém GS, gamma loop

• GS It is controlled from the reticular formation (activation/inhibition

system), through which regulatory influences from the cerebellum,
basal ganglia and cortex are also applied
• Function
• GS is a self-regulating feedback system
• The gamma loop ensures the correct course of tonic and motor
muscle responses
• Adjustment using the gamma system precedes the activity of the
alpha system
• GS Prepares and sets the conditions for executing a movement
• GS Controls the level of excitability of muscle spindles
Exteroceptive reflexes

• RECEPTORs:
• Nociceptors (pain),
mechanoreceptors (touch),
thermoreceptors (cold, heat) in
the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

division according to answers

• FLEXOR RR.- DEFENSIVE
• EXTENSION RR.-POSTURE
HW

• Anatomy and function

• Muscle spindle (MS)
• Tendon body (Goldi)

• petr.konecny@upol.cz
• deadline:10.10.2023