MCB 32 Fall 2016

Lecture 15 (Oct 18)

Lecture 15 Reflexes and motor control

Review muscle contraction
Types of skeletal muscle fibers
There are different types of muscle fibers, which rely on aerobic respiration or anaerobic
respiration more or less
Muscle fibers are categorized into 3 types based on speed, fatigue resistance and whether they
are oxidative (aerobic respiration) or not (Table 12.1)
- Slow oxidative (also known as Type I)
- Fast oxidative (also known as Type IIA)
- Fast glycolytic (also known as Type IIB)
A motor unit contains fibers of only one type, but muscle will have all three types (Fig 12.25)
With training, muscle fibers can be converted from one type to another.
Which fiber types would be most prominent in a marathon runner? What about a sprinter?
(Clicker)

Now that we know how nerves and muscles work, we can understand a simple reflex circuit.
Spinal reflexes
What is a reflex? What is the function of reflexes?

Spinal reflexes use neurons in the spinal cord and dont require the brain
Reflexes all follow a basic plan for the neural pathways (Fig 9.18).

MCB 32 Fall 2016

Lecture 15 (Oct 18)

This pathway looks really familiar. Where have we seen something similar before?

Patellar stretch reflex

The patellar stretch reflex occurs when the patellar tendon is tapped and the knee jerks
forward in response. Now lets see how these components connect together in an actual person
(Fig 9.19)

When the quad muscle lengthens, the muscle spindle senses this and sends sensory signals to
the spinal cord (in other words, the spindle is an afferent neuron). This in turn activates motor
neurons, which counteract the stretched muscle. What kind of feedback is this?
Note that the addition of the inhibitory interneuron in the circuit allows one sensory neuron
to initiate excitation of the quad muscle and inhibition of the opposing hamstring. If the
hamstring were also contracting, then it would oppose movement of the leg.
The quads and hamstrings are an antagonistic muscle pair (one contracts while the other one
relaxes). Many muscles in our body are paired up like this.
2

MCB 32 Fall 2016

Lecture 15 (Oct 18)

How do you inhibit muscle contraction?

Note that receiving the sensory information and sending the signal to the muscle to contract
does not require input from the brain. Thats why spinal reflexes are so fast.
However, the sensory information does get sent to the brain as well, which is why we perceive
the reflex and feel the sensation of being hit.
Why do you think doctors test the knee jerk reflex during a physical exam?

Practice problem (Fig 9.20) and Clicker question

Voluntary movement
The circuitry that is used for spinal reflexes is also used for voluntary motor control. Neurons
from the brain make synapses onto the motor neurons
The central nervous system controls motor neurons (descending pathway), and, in turn, sensory
neurons send information about the muscles to the CNS (ascending pathway).
Descending pathway
Neurons from the motor cortex in the frontal lobe of the brain send axons down to the motor
neurons and inhibitory interneurons in the spinal cord to control movement. This is known as
the pyramidal tract.
These axons from the motor cortex cross over in the medulla on their way down (similar to
touch receptors that are headed into the brain). (Fig 9.22a)

MCB 32 Fall 2016

Lecture 15 (Oct 18)

The motor cortex is also organized into a map of body parts (like the somatosensory cortex)
(Fig 9.15b)
The map organization of the motor cortex can be dramatically demonstrated using a research
technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation that temporarily inhibits particular regions
of the motor cortex (video)
Ascending pathway
Sensory neurons in muscles and tendons = proprioceptors (part of somatosensory system)
1) Muscle spindles are inside the muscles and report on muscle length (stretch) Fig 12.29
We saw these in the patellar stretch reflex
They are in all of the skeletal muscles
2) Golgi tendon organ is a sensory neuron wrapped around the connective tissue in the
tendon. They send information about muscle tension to the CNS and they protect the muscles
from excessive activity (which could cause a muscle tear). Fig 12.32
Proprioceptors follow an ascending pathway that is similar to the pathway for touch. The first
order neurons travel on the same side of the spinal cord to the medulla, and then the 2nd order
neurons cross over to the other side (Fig 10.15)
The nervous system is constantly receiving information from these proprioceptors, so we know
the location of our limbs and body. The motor cortex needs to know this information to plan
the next movements.
There are a few people without functioning proprioceptors and they are essentially paralyzed,
because their brain doesnt know how to move muscles it isnt receiving signals from.
Eventually people can learn how to move, but they have to look at their limbs to know where
they are in space. (video)
[Also check out this podcast about someone who no longer has proprioception (optional):
http://www.radiolab.org/story/91526-the-butchers-assistant/]
Practice question