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Cranial Nerves
Cranial Nerve Sensory, Motor or Mixed Function
Mnemonic Cranial Nerves: Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final, Very Good Vacations Are
Heavenly
Chapter 16
Cerebellum receives input from motor area of cortex and basal nuclei about intention for
movement, receives input from proprioceptors which monitor actual movement, compares
intention of movement with actual movement performed and sends out corrective feedback
to UMN in cortex or brainstem.
Difference between learning and memory: learning is the ability to acquire new skills through
experience, memory is process by which information is stored and retrieved.
● Plasticity: capability for change in learning
● Long term memory for information that can be verbalized is stored in the cerebral
cortex. Long term memory for motor functions stored in basal ganglia, cerebellum and
cortex.
Chapter 13
Spinal cord and spinal reflexes: highway for upward and downward travel of sensory and
motor information. Spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column, the meninges and
cerebrospinal fluid.
Gray matter of spinal cord contains neuron cell bodies, neuroglia, unmyelinated axons and
dendrites.
● sensory nuclei: receive input from sensory neurons
● motor nuclei: provide output to tissues via motor neurons
White matter surrounds grey matter and contains mostly myelinated axons.
Pattern of more white matter going up the spinal cord as for you add more axon tracts going
up; myelinated axons. White matter is divided into columns and tracts. Ascending tracts carry
sensory information up to the brain and descending tracts carry motor information down
from the brain.
Spinal cord functions:
1. Gray matter receives and integrates information
2. White matter tracts are for nerve impulse conduction to and from the brain
Posterior and anterior roots of spinal nerve merge to form a mixed nerve.
Spinal nerves branches:
1. Posterior rami
2. Anterior rami: form plexus
3. Meningeal branches
4. Rami communicantes
Anterior rami join to form nerve plexus; if one fails you still have others working.
● Cervical plexus contains the phrenic nerve which supplies diaphragm.
● Brachial plexus supplies the shoulder and upper limb
● Intercostal nerves do not form nerve plexus
● Lumbar plexus
● Sacral and coccygeal plexus contain the sciatic nerve
Skin segments are called dermatomes.
Reflexes and Reflex Arcs: sensory receptor responds to stimulus, sensory neuron conducts
impulse from receptor to integration system; if it synapses with motor neuron is
monosynaptic, if an interneuron is involved it is polysynaptic. If motor neuron affects organs
on the same side it is ipsilateral reflex, if motor neuron crosses to other side it’s contralateral.
If effector is skeletal muscle it’s a somatic reflex, if it’s a smooth muscle or gland it’s
autonomic.
1. Stretch reflex: control muscle length by causing muscle contraction. In stretch reflex,
sensory neuron synapses directly with the motor neuron.
a. Stretching stimulates muscle spindles which causes the sensory neuron to get
excited, its impulse travels to the spinal cord where it synapses with motor
neuron. Motor neuron gets excited and causes effector muscle to contract and
relieve the stretching. Simultaneously, the motor neuron to antagonist muscle is
inhibited.
b. Somatic, monosynaptic, ipsilateral
2. Tendon reflex: controls muscle tension by causing muscle relaxation. Motor neuron is
hyperpolarized and muscle relaxes.
a. Increased tension stimulates sensory receptor (tendon organ) which causes
excitation of sensory neuron; sensory neuron synapses with interneuron which
synapses with motor neuron. Motor neuron to antagonist muscle is excited and
signals the muscle to relax.
b. Somatic, polysynaptic, ipsilateral
3. Flexor reflex: moves limb away to avoid pain
a. Stimulation of sensory receptors, sensory neuron gets excited, it synapses with
interneuron (ascending and descending interneuron) which synapses with
motor neuron and signals the effector muscles to contract and withdraw limb.
b. Somatic, polysynaptic, ipsilateral and intersegmental
4. Crossed extensor reflex: helps maintain balance during flexor reflex
a. Same as flexor reflex except that during integration, the synchronized extension
of the joints of a limb and flexion of the joints in the opposite limb occurs.
b. Somatic, polysynaptic, contralateral and intersegmental
Abnormal response to plantar flexion reflex in babies is called Babinski sign.