Dr Raghuveer Choudhary

POSTURE & ITS

REGULATION:

 POSTURE: A state of equilibrium in

the space or position adopted by an
individual in the environment.
 POSTURE
Posture

Balance
 MECHANISMS OF POSTURE
Two mechanisms
Muscle tone
2. Postural reflexes.
 posture reflex
adjustments of tone in the antigravity muscles.

human flexors of upper extremity &

extensors of lower extremity antigravity

basic postural reflex

stretch reflex.
 centre of gravity of head the centre
of gravity of atlanto-occipital joint

 cervico-occipital
muscles


stretching quadriceps muscles


• This ensures that the knee joints the main weight
bearing joints do not give way under the effect of
gravity.

• This maintains the leg as a pillar of support & thus

counteracts the gravitational displacement of the
body.

• Various postural reflexes influence the medial motor

systems & the motor neurons of antigravity muscles.

excite both alpha
& gamma motor neurons that innervate antigravity
muscles & their spindles.

1. Lateral vestibulospinal tract

2. Pontine reticulospinal tract.
 It is a spinal
reflex with supraspinal control.

 The centre for muscle tone lies in anterior motor neurons( α- motor
neurons) of spinal cord, which are stimulated through a constant γ-
motor neuron discharge.

 pyramidal &
extrapyramidal fibres
• Bulboreticular facilitatory area pons
facilitatory gamma
motor neurons

• Bulboreticular inhibitory area medulla

cerebellum or cerebral cortex inhibits gamma

motor discharge.
stretch reflexes
 facilitatory
• It directly stimulate Alpha
motor neurons
inhibitory • Increased tone produced by it
is called Alpha rigidity
• These effects are exerted via
Gamma efferents
Motor cotex
Basal
ganglia
cerebellum

Vestibular
nucleus

Facilitatory reticular Inhibitory

formation reticular
formation
 POSTURAL REFLEXES
maintain the body in upright & balanced
position

• Provide adjustments
 REFLEX ARC OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
• Afferent pathways

• Integrating center

• Efferent pathways
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
Static reflexes:
elicited by gravitational pull
Maintain

Statokinetic reflexes
• Elicited displacement
• Maintain
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
• Static reflexes
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
LOCAL STATIC REFLEXES -
same limb
 VARIOUS POSTURAL REFLEXES

REFLEX STIMULUS RESPONSE RECEPTORS INTEGRATING

CENTRE IN CNS
A.Static
reflexes
1.Local static Contraction of Muscles Spinal cord and
reflexes Stretch antigravity spindles mid brain
Stretch reflex muscles

2.Positive Contact of skin Contraction of Touch and

Supporting of the sole of flexors and pressure Spinal cord
reflex foot with ground extensors of receptors from
the limb. skin of sole of
foot.

3.Negative Stretch of Disappearance Proprioceptors Spinal cord

supporting extensor of positive in extensors
reaction muscles supporting
reaction
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
1. Reflex control of antigravity muscle tone:
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
2. Positive supporting reaction:
both extensors & flexors

• Plays imp role

• Afferent impulses
TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
3. Negative supporting reaction:
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
SEGMENTAL STATIC REFLXES -

bilateral reflex

• Example

Role
REFLEX STIMULUS RESPONSE RECEPTORS INTEGRATING
CENTRE IN CNS

2.Segmental Contraction of Nociceptors Spinal cord

static reflexes Painful flexors of the
Crossed stimulus ipsilateral limb and
extensors of
extensor reflex
contralateral limb
to support the
body.
3.General static
reflexes Gravity Extensor rigidity Otolith organs Vestibular and
Attitudinal (alternation of reticular nuclei
reflexes position of head present in the
1. Tonic relative to medulla
labyrinthine horizontal plan) Flexion of forelimbs oblongata.
reflex and extension of hind
Stretch of neck limbs on ventroflexion
2. Tonic neck muscles due to of head .extension of Pacinian
reflex fore limbs and flexion
alternation of of hindlimbs.flexion of
corpuscles in Medulla
position of head ipsilateral limbs and the ligaments
relative to body. extension of of cervical joint
contralateral limbs on and muscles
turning the head side- spindles of
ways. neck muscles.
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
GENERAL STATIC REFLXES -
generalized reflex response
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
Attitudinal Reflexes -
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex -
position of head
relative to horizontal plane

• Stimulus:
• Receptors :
• Afferents:

• Center:

• Efferents:
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
• Reflex response:
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
Tonic Neck Reflex -
position of head
relative to body

• Stimulus:
• Receptors:

• Center:
• Efferent:
 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXESRESPONSE
• Reflex response:
Tonic Neck Reflex
 • Medulla Reflexes
• Tonic neck reflex (primitive reflex found in newborn)
• head up causes
• hind limbs to flex
• fore limbs to extend
• head down
• fore limbs flex
• hind limbs extend
• head turn to one side
• limbs on the side where head is turned to
extend/straighten
• opposite side is bent/flexed
REFLEX RESPONSE
 IMPORTANCE

, tonic labyrinthine reflex

 TYPES OF POSTURAL REFLEXES
LONG LOOP STRETCH REFLEXES [Righting Reflexes]
RIGHTING REFLEXES
RIGHTING REFLEX
 1. HEAD RIGHTING REFLEX
• Labyrinthine righting reflex
head is in lateral position
saccules
• neck righting reflex
• Stimulus: stretch of neck muscles
• Response: righting of thorax and shoulders
• receptors: muscle spindles
• eg. A newborn's reflex to turn his trunk and shoulders to the
same side his head is turned
1. HEAD RIGHTING REFLEX
 2. BODY RIGHTING [BODY-ON-HEAD] REFLEX
• Body-on-head righting reflex

differential stimulation
2. BODY RIGHTING REFLEX
 3. NECK RIGHTING [NECK-ON-BODY] REFLEX
• Also called Neck–on-Body

head is righted but the body remains in

lateral position twisting of neck

thorax & lumbar region successively into upright

position
 4. BODY-ON-BODY RIGHTING REFLEX
body is lying
• Righting of head is prevented
righting the body
directly
 5. OPTICAL RIGHTING REFLEX
• Optical impulses

even after denervation of the

labyrinths & neck muscles
 CENTERS OF RIGHTING REFLEX
Center for all righting reflexes

Center for optical righting reflex-

REFLEX STIMULUS RESPONSE RECEPTORS INTEGRATING
CENTRE IN CNS
2.Long loop stretch Stretch of the Continuous Muscle Spinal cord
reflex muscle due to moment to spindles(monosyna
swaying of body moment ptic reflex) visual Cerebral cortex
corrections of receptor(long loon
sways which occurs reflex)
3.Righting reflexes during standing.
Otolith organs in
• Labyrinthine Gravity Brings the head in saccules of Mid brain
righting reflex upright level labyrinth.exterocep
tors
•Body righting Pressure on side of
reflex body Righting of head. Exteroceptors Mid brain

•Neck righting Stretch of neck Muscle spindles

reflex muscles Righting of thorax Mid brain
and shoulders and
•Body on body Pressure on side of then pelvis Exteroceptors
righting reflex the body Righting of body Mid brain
even when righting
of head is
•Limbs righting Stretch of limb prevented. Muscle spindles
reflex muscles Appropriate Mid brain
posture of limbs

• optical Visual cues Eyes Cerebral cortex

righting reflex Righting of head
 STATO-KINETIC REFLEXES
• Elicited by angular linear acceleratory
stimuli
REFLEX STIMULUS RESPONSE RECEPTORS INTEGRATING
CENTRE IN CNS

B.Statokinetic
reflexes Linear Foot placed on Receptors in
•Vestibular acceleration supporting surface utricle and Cerebral cortex
placing reaction in position to saccule .
support body.

•Visual placing Foot places on

reaction Visual cues supporting surface. Eyes Cerebral cortex

•Hopping Hops, maintains

reactions the limb in position
Lateral to support the body Muscle spindle Cerebral cortex
displacement
while standing
 1. VESTIBULAR PLACING REACTION
linear acceleration

prepares the animal for appropriate

support by the limbs on surface contact
VESTIBULAR PLACING REACTION
VISUAL PLACING REACTION
 HOPPING REACTION
hopping movements that keep the limbs in
position to support the body

lateral displacement
 Optical righting reflex :
Visual stimuli that enable an
animal to maintain the correct
position of the head in space,
by bringing about movements
of the muscles of the neck
and limbs.
visual clues –> righting of
the head
 Placing reflex : when the
infant is held erect and the
dorsum of the foot is drawn
along the under edge of a
table top  flexion followed
by extension of the leg
Appears by 4 days in the
newborn

Stepping Reflex
When feet touch the ground
, the infant appears to take
some steps
Stepping reflex disappears
before walking :
Hopping reaction
 • Postural Control Centers :
• Cerebral cortex
• Optical Righting reflex
• Placing Reaction
• Hopping Reaction
• Midbrain : the Midbrain Righting
Reflexes 
• (a) Labyrinthine
• (b) Neck
• (c) Body on Head
• (d) Body on Body
• Medulla
• (1) Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex
• (2) Tonic Neck Reflex
• Spinal Cord
• Positive and Negative Supporting
Reaction
• Stretch Reflex
transection of spinal cord at
lower cervical level
•decerebrate rigidity
midbrain

pons

medulla
decerebrate rigidity

• tonic reflexes are seen

Site of lesion  between the
superior and inferior colliculi of
the midbrain , lesion below Red
Nucleus , resulting in
extensive extensor posture of all
extremeties  Rigidity of all 4
limbs
 All limbs extended

 (hallmark  elbows extended)

Head may be arched to the back
It is due to 
(1) increased general excitability
of the motor neuron pool 
especiallly Gamma efferent
discharge ( due to facilitatory
effects of the un inhibited
Vestibulospinal Tract ) .
• Decerebrate rigidity is not commonly found in man.

• The pattern in true rigidity is extensor in all 4 limbs.

• The actual decerebrate rigidity generally shows extensor

rigidity in legs & moderate flexion in arms due to lesions
of cerebral cortex with most of brain stem intact.
• Decorticate animal is one in whom the whole cerebral cortex is removed but
the basal ganglia and brain stem are left intact
full extension of legs
arms lying across the chest

flexion of wrist and fingers

•decortication
 Decorticate posture
• Level of lesion lies above the Red
Nucleus.
• So the Rubrospinal Tract remain intact.
• It supplies flexor group of motor
neurons in upper limb
• So in decorticate rigidity where the
rubrospinal tract is intact the upper
limbs are flexed
Decerebrate posture
• In midcollicular section, the
rubrospinal tract is sectioned
• as thelevel of midcollicular section
passes below the Red Nucleus .
• So flexion of upper limb is absent
and all 4 limbs are extended
• In humans , where true
decerebrate rigidty is rare ,
since the damage to the
brain centers involved in it
are lethal.
• However decorticate • Arms flexed & bent inwards
rigidity can be caused by towards chest
bleeding in the internal • Feet turned inward
capsule which causes UMNL
(damage to upper motor • Seen in corticospinal animal :
neurons) . damage above Red Nucleus
• Symptoms & Signs : ( in cerebral hemispheres ,
internal capsule or thalamus ).
• Flexion in the upper limbs
and extension in the lower
limbs.
Motor cotex
Basal
ganglia
cerebellum

Vestibular
nucleus

Facilitatory reticular Inhibitory

formation reticular
formation
•decortication
 Levels of Lesions

Decorticate

Animal Decerebrate

Spinal Animal
Retina Occulomotor system
vestibular
system

vestibular nuclei
cerebellum
neck
receptors
complex pathways

pressure
& other
receptors

postural adjustments
• Animal Experiments show increased tone or rigidity.
• Different Types
• 1 Decerebrate Rigidity-Sherrington and ischemic.
• 2 Decorticate Rigidity.
• 3 Lead Pipe Rigidity.
• 4 Cogwheel Rigidity.- 3 &4 are found in Parkinson’s Disease
 Types of Rigidity
• 5 Decerebellate Rigidity-found in animals.In humans
cerebellectomy is associated with hypotonia.
• True rigidity is hypertonia in both extensor and flexor group of
muscles and is found in lead pipe and cogwheel rigidity of
Parkinsonism.
• All other types of rigidity mentioned above are really spaticity
where only one group of mucle show hypertonia