What are the three characteristics of a high-steppage gait?
- high knee flexion
- lack of ankle dorsiflexion
- foot lands toe first
Where would we see the effects of an injury to the Lower Motor Neurons?
On the same side of the body (ipsilateral)
What is radiculopathy?
Compression or injury of a ventral nerve root
What is neuropathy?
Injury or disease to the spinal nerves
How does poliomyelitis affect the NS?
- attacks the cell bodies in the anterior horn of the GMSC
What percentage of polio patients experience complications?
- ~10% have neurological symptoms
- ~1% have plegia
What level of the SC does polio primarily affect?
Lumbar region
What happens if polio attacks the thoracic region of the SC?
It can compromise function of respiratory muscles and require external breathing support (i.e. iron lung, ventilator)
What is the term for when the polio virus re-activates later in life?
post-polio syndrome
How would we classify white matter from upper motor neurons?
(Within the three classificaitons of white matter)
As projection fibres
Where is the motor cortex found?
In the pre-central gyrus
What muscle groups take up greater areas of the motor cortex?
- Those that have many muscles and/or require significant fine motor control
- i.e., hands, face
List the names of white matter as it travels from the cortex down to the SC
corona radiata > internal capsule > basis pedunculi > pyramid
What is the corona radiata?
A general term to describe white matter as it projects from the cortex
What is the internal capsule?
White matter travelling by the thalamus
What is the basis pedunculi?
White matter travelling on the ventral side of the midbrain
What is the pyramid?
White matter travelling along the ventral side of the medulla
What are the two corticospinal tracts and how much of the tract do they each make up?
- Lateral (85%)
- Anterior (15%)
Describe the features of the lateral cortico-spinal tract
- Primarily controls distal muscles of hands and feet
- Ends primarily at the cervical and lumbo-sacral enlargements
- Controls muscles on the contra-lateral side
- Sometimes called the pyramidal tract
Where does the lateral cortico-spinal tract decussate?
At the cervicomedullary junction
