Higher centre involvement

Question 1

What effect do the corticospinal and reticulospinal tract have

Answer 1

Inhibitory effects on trunk and lower limbs

Question 2

What happens if a lesion damages the descending tracts?

Answer 2

Will cause an overall excitation, so reflex becomes hyperactive

Question 3

Why do we test reflexes and what could be the problem?

Answer 3

To look at the pathway

Problem with nerve, feedback into dorsal root, spinocerebellar tract, corticospinal tract

Question 4

What should you observe

Answer 4

Size of the muscle, wasting, change in sensation