Motor Control and Vestibular System Physiology MCQs: Veterinary Questions & Answers

The right rear leg shows classic signs of a lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion, including:

• Muscle atrophy: Indicates loss of motor neuron input to the affected muscle.
• Lack of reflex response: No withdrawal movement when the toe is pinched, suggesting an impaired LMN pathway.
• Decreased muscle tone: Common in LMN injuries.

Why not UMN?
An upper motor neuron lesion typically results in hyperreflexia and spasticity, not muscle atrophy or reflex loss.

The thoracolumbar spinal cord is the most likely location of the lesion based on the clinical findings:

• Normal reflexes (knee jerk and toe-pinch withdrawal) and lack of muscle atrophy suggest intact lower motor neurons.
• The absence of proprioceptive positioning in the hind legs points to a disruption in sensory pathways or descending motor pathways within the thoracolumbar region, which connects the front and rear limbs.

The lower motor neurons to the hind legs are most likely affected based on the following findings:

• Muscle atrophy: Indicates denervation of the affected muscles.
• Absent reflexes: Suggests that the lower motor neurons in the spinal cord or their peripheral axons are damaged.
• Lower motor neuron lesions typically result in flaccid paralysis, reduced reflexes, and muscle atrophy in the affected limbs.

The absence of muscle contraction in response to nerve stimulation, combined with a contraction after direct muscle stimulation, strongly indicates a lower motor neuron (LMN) lesion.

• No response to nerve stimulation: Suggests that the lower motor neurons are not transmitting signals to the muscles.
• Response to direct muscle stimulation: Confirms that the muscles and neuromuscular junctions are functioning normally.

Conclusion: Lower motor neuron damage prevents the relay of signals from the CNS to the muscles, causing loss of voluntary movement.

Lower motor neuron (LMN) disease is characterized by muscle atrophy due to the loss of innervation to the affected muscles.

• Without neural input, the muscles lose their ability to contract, leading to disuse and reduced muscle mass.

Other Signs of LMN Disease:

• Flaccid paralysis: Loss of voluntary movement with decreased muscle tone.
• Absent or reduced reflexes: Due to disruption in the reflex arc.

Contrast with UMN Disease: Upper motor neuron disease causes spastic paralysis and exaggerated reflexes, but muscle atrophy is typically absent.

Upper motor neurons (UMNs) are located entirely within the central nervous system (CNS) and serve to control and regulate the activity of lower motor neurons (LMNs).

• Send signals to LMNs in the spinal cord and brainstem to coordinate voluntary movement.
• Regulate reflexes by providing inhibitory or excitatory input.
• Play a critical role in maintaining posture and smooth motor control.

Key distinction: UMNs do not directly innervate skeletal muscles; this task is performed by LMNs.

In upper motor neuron disease, reflexes are retained but exaggerated due to the loss of inhibitory control normally exerted by UMNs.

• Exaggerated reflexes (hyperreflexia): Occurs because the inhibitory influence of UMNs is lost.
• Spastic paralysis: Increased muscle tone due to unregulated lower motor neuron activity.
• No significant muscle atrophy: Because LMNs remain intact and capable of maintaining baseline muscle tone.

Contrast with LMN disease: LMN lesions result in flaccid paralysis, muscle atrophy, and absent reflexes.

Lower motor neurons (LMNs) located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord directly innervate the skeletal muscles of the limbs and are responsible for producing voluntary and reflexive motor responses.

• Transmit signals from upper motor neurons or reflex circuits to skeletal muscles.
• Generate muscle contraction to produce movement.

Contrast with Other Motor Neurons:

• Upper motor neurons (UMNs): Coordinate LMNs but do not directly innervate muscles.
• Gamma motor neurons: Adjust muscle spindle sensitivity but do not control skeletal muscle contraction directly.

Hyperreflexia, or exaggerated reflexes, is a hallmark of upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions due to the loss of inhibitory control provided by UMNs.

• Hyperreflexia: Reflex circuits become overactive due to the loss of UMN regulation.
• Spasticity: Increased muscle tone caused by unregulated lower motor neuron activity.
• No significant atrophy: Muscle bulk is preserved as LMNs remain intact.

Contrast with Lower Motor Neuron Lesions:

• Cause hyporeflexia or areflexia due to direct damage to the reflex arc.
• Associated with muscle atrophy and flaccid paralysis.

The clinical signs observed in this dog—spastic gait, exaggerated reflexes, and absence of muscle atrophy—are classic indicators of an upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion affecting the hind legs.

• Spastic gait: Increased muscle tone due to the loss of inhibitory control from UMNs.
• Hyperreflexia: Reflexes are exaggerated because UMNs usually regulate reflex circuits.
• No atrophy: UMN lesions preserve muscle mass because the lower motor neurons and neuromuscular junction remain intact.

Lower motor neurons (LMNs) are essential for transmitting signals from the CNS to skeletal muscles. Damage to LMNs disrupts this pathway, leading to:

• Hyporeflexia (reduced reflexes) or areflexia (absence of reflexes): Reflex arcs are dependent on LMN integrity.
• Muscle atrophy: Caused by the loss of neural stimulation to the affected muscles.
• Flaccid paralysis: Weakness or lack of movement in the affected muscles with decreased tone.

Key Contrast: Upper motor neuron damage typically results in hyperreflexia, spasticity, and preserved muscle mass.

Upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions are characterized by a loss of inhibitory control over reflex arcs, leading to hyperreflexia or exaggerated reflexes in affected areas.

• Exaggerated segmental reflexes (e.g., knee jerk).
• Increased muscle tone (spasticity).
• Absence of significant muscle atrophy, as lower motor neurons (LMNs) remain intact to maintain baseline muscle tone.

Contrast with LMN Lesions:

• LMN damage results in flaccid paralysis, muscle atrophy, and hyporeflexia or areflexia.

The clinical signs of paralysis without muscle atrophy, combined with exaggerated reflexes in the hind legs, strongly suggest an upper motor neuron (UMN) lesion.

• Normal motor function in front legs: Indicates that the cervical spinal cord and brachial plexus are intact.
• Paralysis in hind legs with exaggerated reflexes: Points to a disruption of UMN pathways controlling the hind legs.
• No muscle atrophy: UMN lesions preserve muscle tone as LMNs and neuromuscular junctions remain functional.

Motor neuron pools in the ventral horn of the spinal cord are arranged somatotopically to coordinate muscle control:

• Lateral regions of the ventral horn contain neurons that control distal limb muscles, enabling precise and skilled movements.
• Medial regions contain neurons that control axial (trunk) and proximal (shoulder and hip) muscles, which are essential for posture and balance.

This arrangement ensures functional organization within the spinal cord to facilitate both fine and gross motor tasks.

Decerebrate rigidity occurs due to damage to the brainstem or forebrain, which disrupts cortical control over brainstem motor pathways. This condition is characterized by:

• Exaggerated antigravity muscle tone, resulting from loss of cortical inhibition on motor neurons.
• A fixed, rigid posture, often resembling a hobbyhorse-like stance in quadrupeds.
• Impaired cortical regulation of medullary reticulospinal neurons, further contributing to the increased muscle tone.

This syndrome highlights the critical role of cortical control in modulating motor pathways.

The rubrospinal tract is primarily involved in controlling distal limb musculature, particularly flexor muscles, to enable skilled and voluntary movements. This pathway complements the corticospinal tract in mediating precise motor control.

• The vestibulospinal tract plays a key role in maintaining balance and posture by acting on antigravity muscles.
• The reticulospinal tract contributes to postural control and gross motor coordination.
• The tectospinal tract coordinates head and neck movements in response to visual or auditory stimuli.

The corticospinal (pyramidal) tract is responsible for initiating fine, skilled, voluntary movements, particularly of the distal limb muscles. This tract is crucial for precision and coordination, such as movements of the hand in primates. It predominantly influences flexor muscles and is vital for complex motor tasks.

Postural and antigravity movements are controlled by brainstem motor pathways like the vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts.

The signs of weakness and proprioceptive placing reaction deficit in the left front and hind legs can be traced to either:

• Left side of the cervical spinal cord: A lesion here can disrupt both motor neurons and sensory pathways on the ipsilateral side, affecting both the left front and hind limbs.
• Right cerebral cortex: A lesion in the right cerebral cortex affects the left side of the body due to decussation (crossing) of corticospinal fibers at the pyramidal decussation, leading to motor and proprioceptive deficits in both the front and hind limbs on the left side.

If the initial muscle shortening doesn’t occur, the muscle spindle detects the stretch and sends sensory input to the spinal cord. This leads to:

• Excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in the α motor neurons of the same muscle, leading to an increase in muscle contraction to correct the length discrepancy.

This process is part of the stretch reflex, which maintains muscle tone and helps fine-tune movements.

The vestibulospinal tract is primarily responsible for controlling antigravity muscles, which help maintain posture. It acts on the axial and proximal extensor muscles of the body to keep it upright and stable:

• The vestibulospinal tract receives input from the vestibular system, which detects changes in head position and balance.
• Reflex adjustments mediated by this tract help maintain stability, especially during changes in body posture or when balancing.

By controlling postural muscles, it plays a critical role in preventing falls and maintaining equilibrium.

The rubrospinal tract is primarily responsible for controlling voluntary skilled movements of the distal limbs. It plays a crucial role in enabling precise and refined motor control, especially of the flexor muscles in quadrupeds:

• The rubrospinal tract supports locomotion and skilled limb movements, particularly in quadrupeds.
• In primates, it works in conjunction with the corticospinal tract for fine motor control.

By regulating skilled movements, this tract ensures smooth and coordinated control of the limbs.

The basal ganglia are critical for modulating motor activity without directly initiating movement. They help select and suppress movement patterns based on context, ensuring smooth transitions between actions:

• The basal ganglia interact with other motor pathways to influence motor output.
• They help prevent unwanted or excessive motor activity, playing a key role in coordination and movement control.

By modulating movement, the basal ganglia ensure purposeful and coordinated motor functions.

The corticospinal tract is the primary pathway for skilled voluntary movements, particularly for the distal limbs. It is responsible for precise control of fine motor actions:

• Damage to the corticospinal tract impairs dexterity, leading to deficits in tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as grasping or manipulating objects.
• Other tracts, like the reticulospinal and vestibulospinal tracts, mainly regulate posture and gross motor control.

The corticospinal tract is essential for tasks requiring precise and skilled voluntary movement, and damage to it causes significant functional deficits.

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating complex movements by ensuring they are smooth, well-timed, and precise:

• It compares sensory feedback with the motor plan to adjust and refine ongoing movements.
• It sends corrective signals to adjust muscle activity as needed, helping to fine-tune motor tasks.
• It plays a critical role in balance and motor learning.

Damage to the cerebellum can result in ataxia, characterized by uncoordinated and jerky movements, demonstrating its key role in motor control.

The tectospinal tract is involved in reflex movements of the head and neck, enabling the organism to orient toward external stimuli:

• It originates in the superior colliculus of the midbrain, which processes sensory input from the environment.
• This tract facilitates rapid head movements, allowing the organism to align its gaze with a stimulus, which is important for situational awareness.

These reflexive movements help the organism respond quickly to stimuli such as sounds or visual cues, enhancing survival and response to potential threats.

The corticobulbar tract controls voluntary movements of the face and head muscles:

• This tract directs the lower motor neurons in the brainstem, which innervate muscles responsible for facial expressions, chewing, and speech.
• It operates similarly to the corticospinal tract, but focuses on cranial nerve nuclei in the brainstem.

The corticobulbar tract ensures the precise and coordinated motor control of the muscles of the face and head.

The reticulospinal tract plays a crucial role in regulating muscle tone and maintaining posture:

• It primarily affects axial and proximal muscles, which are essential for balance and stability.
• This tract prepares the body for movement by modulating antigravity muscles to ensure proper posture during voluntary actions.
• Unlike the corticospinal tract, which controls fine motor skills, the reticulospinal tract is involved in global postural support.

This pathway is essential for coordinating body movements and making postural adjustments during locomotion.

Gamma motor neurons adjust the tension in the intrafusal fibers of muscle spindles, ensuring that the spindles remain sensitive to stretch during voluntary muscle contraction:

• When a muscle contracts, the alpha motor neurons shorten the extrafusal fibers, and the gamma motor neurons simultaneously tighten the intrafusal fibers.
• This coactivation prevents the muscle spindle from becoming slack, allowing it to detect further changes in muscle length and maintain proper feedback for motor control.

This mechanism ensures precise control of movement and helps maintain muscle tone regulation.

The corticospinal tract is responsible for controlling voluntary, skilled movements, particularly of the distal limb muscles:

• It originates in the motor cortex and descends through the brainstem, crossing over at the pyramidal decussation in the medulla.
• This pathway is essential for fine motor skills such as grasping objects, writing, or manipulating tools.

Damage to the corticospinal tract impairs dexterity and skilled motor movements, as it is crucial for precise control of distal limb muscles.

The supplementary motor cortex plays a critical role in planning and organizing complex movement sequences:

• It is involved in tasks that require coordination between multiple muscle groups or limbs, such as bilateral movements.
• Works closely with the primary motor cortex to translate movement plans into precise motor commands.
• Essential for learning new motor patterns and executing intricate sequences like typing or playing a musical instrument.

Unlike simple reflexive movements, this area is responsible for higher-order motor control.

The medial descending brainstem motor pathways, such as the vestibulospinal and reticulospinal tracts, control postural muscles:

• These pathways primarily target proximal and axial extensor muscles, which are crucial for maintaining balance and stability.
• The vestibulospinal tract adjusts posture reflexively in response to balance changes.
• The reticulospinal tract modulates muscle tone and coordinates posture during voluntary movements.

These pathways help resist gravity and maintain an upright posture, complementing the lateral tracts that control fine motor skills.

The cerebellum is critical for the smooth execution of coordinated movements:

• It compares sensory feedback with the motor plan to detect and correct errors in movement.
• It modulates muscle contractions to ensure proper timing and smooth execution of complex movements.
• The cerebellum also supports motor learning, allowing for the refinement of movements through practice.

Damage to the cerebellum results in ataxia, characterized by uncoordinated and jerky movements, demonstrating its essential role in motor control.

The basal ganglia are key for modulating motor activity:

• They help select appropriate movement patterns while suppressing competing or unwanted actions.
• The basal ganglia filter motor commands, ensuring smooth and purposeful execution of tasks.
• They collaborate with the motor cortex and cerebellum for seamless motor control.

Dysfunction in the basal ganglia, as seen in Parkinson’s disease, leads to symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and difficulty initiating movement.

The cerebellum ensures that movements are smooth, well-timed, and coordinated by:

• Comparing sensory feedback with the intended motor plan to detect and correct errors.
• Modulating muscle contractions to ensure proper timing and smooth execution of complex movements.
• Supporting motor learning, allowing for the refinement of movements through practice.

Damage to the cerebellum results in ataxia, which is characterized by uncoordinated and jerky movements, showing its critical role in movement precision.

The corticospinal tracts have distinct roles in movement control:

• The lateral corticospinal tract controls voluntary, skilled movements of the distal limbs, like fine motor tasks.
• The ventral corticospinal tract regulates postural adjustments, particularly for axial and proximal muscles, like those in the trunk and shoulders.

These tracts work together to coordinate both precise and gross motor control across the body.

The pyramidal decussation is a key anatomical feature of the corticospinal tract:

• Located at the junction between the medulla and spinal cord, it is where the majority of corticospinal axons cross over to the contralateral side of the body.
• This crossing allows the motor cortex on one side of the brain to control muscles on the opposite side of the body.
• This arrangement is crucial for coordinated voluntary movements, as it ensures bilateral integration of motor control.

The lateral vestibulospinal tract plays a crucial role in maintaining posture and balance by:

• Activating antigravity extensor muscles, such as those in the legs and trunk, to resist gravity and stabilize the body.
• Responding to changes in balance detected by the vestibular system, ensuring quick postural adjustments.

This tract works reflexively to keep the body upright, especially during unexpected shifts in position or movement.

The motor cortices consist of:

• Primary motor cortex: Executes voluntary movements.
• Supplementary motor cortex: Plans and coordinates complex movement sequences.
• Premotor cortex: Prepares the body for movement by:
  • Orienting limbs toward a target, especially during visually guided tasks.
  • Integrating sensory and motor information to optimize movement planning.

These regions work together to ensure smooth and coordinated voluntary motor activity.