THE MOTOR SYSTEM

Part of cerebral cortex of frontal lobes which on stimulation gives response

to skeletal muscle responses.

Motor

Area 4- Area 6 Area 8

AREA 4 : MOTOR AREA

Site: Whole length of pre central gyrus.

Main region of origin of pyramidal tracts.

Body is represented upside down

Size of representation of the individual body part is proportional to

the skill with which the part is used in fine voluntary movements

Large area for hand and face.

Supplementary motor area involves involuntary movements that

involve planning and are complicated

AREA 6: PREMOTOR AREA

Anterior to precentral gyrus.

Consist of descending fibers of pyramidal tacts
EXTRAPYRAMIDAL FIBRES.

FUNCTIONS
1. Complicated motor functions eg. two handed coordination
AREA 8: Anterior to pre motor area

Functions
Conjugate deviation of the eyes to the opposite side.

MOTOR PATHWAYS

Pyramidal tracts
Corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts.
Extra pyramidal tracts.

Pyramidal tracts
z Origin: motor areas of cerebral cortex.
z Termination: last segment of spinal cord.

Properties:

z Slow conducting pathway

z Motor area to spinal ventral horn cells- fibers constituting these are
called corticospinal tracts.
z Motor area to motor cranial nuclei in the brain stem; pyramidal tracts
constitute corticobulbar tracts.

Note: 1. Pyramidal cells and tracts constitute upper motor neurons.

2. Spinal and cranial motor neurons which innervate muscle directly
constitute lower motor neuron.
Course of pyramidal tracts:

Internal capsule
↓
Mid brain
↓
Pons
↓
Medulla
↓
Spinal cord

Note: 85% of the fibers cross to the opposite side in lower part of the
medulla and enter lateral white column and descend down as lateral
corticospinal tract.
15% do not cross and enter anterior white column and descend down as
anterior corticospinal tract.

Functions:

1. Lateral corticospinal tract controls fine voluntary movements

2. Anterior corticospinal tracts. Control of postural movements and gross
movements.
3. Corticobulbar tracts control voluntary movements of muscles of
pharynx, larynx and jaws and eyes.

EXTRAPYRAMIDAL TRACTS

Functions

z Concerned with postural and muscular movements.

z Control of tone, posture, equilibrium.
z Coordinated movements of limbs and body.
z movements of eyeball
z Exerts tonic inhibitory control over the lower centers
 Applied:
Damage to extra pyramidal tracts increase the rigidity of muscles.

Tracts that constitute extra pyramidal system:

Rubrospinal tracts Influences Flexor muscle tone

Tectospinal and tectobulbar tracts
Reticulospinal tract
Vestibulospinal tract
Medial longitudinal fasciculus
Reflex postural movements in
response to visual and auditory
stimuli
Fascilitatory / inhibitory effect on
voluntary movements.
Fasciculatory effect on extensor
muscles
Coordination of reflex ocular
movements.

Upper motor neuron lower motor neuron

1. Involves group of muscles
2. Spastic paralysis; i.e. loss of
higher inhibitory control
3. Deep reflexes are hyperactive
4. Babinski’s sign positive
Involves single muscle
Flaccid paralysis; i.e. loss of muscle
tone.
Deep reflexes are lost.
Babinski’s sign not elicited.

Multiple Choice Questions:

1 Pyramidal tract originate in

a) Area 4
b) Area 6
c) Area 8
d) None

2 Motor pathways does not include

a) Pyramidal tracts
b) Corticospinal tract
c) Extrapyramidal tract
d) Anterior spinothalamic tract
3 About extrapyramidal tract one of following is false
a) Concerned with control of tone
b) Concerned with control of posture
c) Concerned with control of equilibrium
d) Concerned with fine touch

4 Upper motor neuron lesion is characterised by

a) Hyperreflexia
b) Flaccid paralysis
c) Loss of Babinski's sign
d) All of above