Spinal Cord

U N I T XI
Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition
Chapter 54:
Motor Functions of the Spinal Cord
DR Sabeen Haq
GUYTON & HALL

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.
The Spinal Cord is More Than Just a Conduit for Nerve Fibers
Neuronal circuits for walking and various reflexes are contained within the spinal cord. Higher brain centers activate and command these circuits.
walking maintaining equilibrium Analytical and command signals
Functions
SPINE
Posture Support Walking
Brain
Commands Sequences Lean forward during walk Walk to jump change Monitor continuously Control equilibrium
Spinal Animal Decerebrate Animal
Initial Spinal Shock All help to study Spinal Funtions Later most intrisic funtions return Initial increased tone Very excitable reflexes
Motor Organization of the Spinal Cord

Sensory fibers enter the cord and are transmitted to higher centers, or they synapse locally to elicit motor reflexes. Motor neurons are located in the anterior portion of the cord.
motor neurons are 50 - 100 % bigger than other neurons
Anterior Motor Neurons

Alpha motor neurons
give rise to large type A alpha fibers (~14 microns). stimulation can excite 3 - 100 extrafusal muscle fibers collectively called a motor unit
Gamma motor neurons

give rise to smaller type A gamma fibers (~5 microns) stimulation excites intrafusal fibers, a special type of sensory receptor
Interneurons and Propriospinal Fibers

Interneurons
30 times as many as anterior motor neurons small and very excitable comprise the neural circuitry for the motor reflexes
Renshaw cell inhibitory system

Receive collaterals from anterior motor neurons Send inhibitory signals back to motor neurons Recurrent inhibition Lateral inhibition to avoid unnecessary spread
Propriospinal fibers
travel up and down the cord for 1 - 2 segments provide pathways for multisegmental reflexes
Sensory Receptors of the Muscle

Muscle Spindle
sense muscle length and change in length Located in the belly of musles
Golgi Tendon Organ

sense tendon tension and change in tension located in muscle tendons
Muscle spindle
3 to 10mm long 3 to 12 small intrafusal muscle fibers Attached to glycocalyx of extrafusal fibers No or few actin and myosin filaments in midway
Functional Anatomy of Muscle Spindles

E/ spindle has 3-10 intrafusal muscle spindles
of the size of lg extrafusal muscle fibers (effector fibers) Central region lacks myofilaments Wrapped by 2 types of nerve fibers
Primary sensory endings of type Ia fibers
Innervate spindle center Stimulated by rate and degree of stretch
Gamma efferent fibers

Innervate contractile regions Arise from ventral horn and maintain spindle sensitivity
Also alpha efferent fibers

Stimulate extrafusal muscle fibers to contract
The Muscle Spindle
Annulospiral primary Dynamic Response
Flower-Spray secondary
1-3/spindle
Static Response
3-9/spindle
Static Response of the Muscle Spindle

When the center of spindle is stretched slowly - the number of impulses generated by the primary and secondary endings increases in proportion to the degree of stretch. This is the static response. Function of the static nuclear bag and nuclear chain fibers.
Dynamic Response of the Muscle Spindle

When the center of the spindle is stretched rapidly - the number of impulses generated by the primary endings increases in proportion to the rate of change of the length.
This is the dynamic response. Function of the dynamic nuclear bag fiber.
Physiologic Function of the Muscle Spindle

Comparator of length between the intrafusal and extrafusal muscle fiber. Opposes a change in length of the muscle. When the muscle is stretched the spindle returns it to its original length. Leads to the stretch reflex. Positive signals indicating stretch ,increse firing Negative signals decrease signals, unstretch
Function of the Muscle Spindle
Whenever skeletal muscle is stretched the muscle spindles are stimulated. They detect:
Changes in the length of muscle fibers. The rate of change at which the muscles are lengthening.
Response characteristics of the stretch receptor
Muscle Spindle Animation
Function of the Gamma System
- Spindle is normally tonically active as a result of input from higher brain centers. - Controls the intensity of the stretch reflex. - Performs a damping function by adjusting sensitivity.
Muscle Spindle
Review of reflex arc.
The Stretch Reflex

Muscle spindle stretched in 1 of 2 ways:
Applying extra force that lengthens whole muscle What would be an example? Activating gamma motor neurons distal ends of intrafusal fibers stretches middle of spindle (internal stretch)
Once spindles are activated, sensory neurons send AP at higher frequency
Muscle Stretch Reflex
The Stretch Reflex

Sensory neurons alpha motor neurons excite extrafusal muscle fiber of stretched muscle
Efferent impulse also sent to antagonistic muscles Inhibits stretch
Called reciprocal inhibition
The Stretch Reflex

Also helped by gamma motor neuron reflex arc As muscle shortens, spindle firing rate decreases, therefore decreased AP generation by alpha motor neurons If stretch reflex alone, jerky movements
Regulate how intrafusal muscle fibers respond
The intrafusal muscle fibers are tiny muscle fibers attached to either end of the stretch receptor. They are innervated by gamma efferent neurons and are not part of the stretch reflex arc.
This has been a brief description of the muscle stretch reflex arc and how it operates. The next series of slides will demonstrate how the muscle stretch reflex arc, the intrafusal muscle fibers, and the gamma efferent neurons are used in local control of muscle fibers.
Dextrafusal muscle fiber Estretch receptor Fintrafusal muscle fiber
Astretch receptor afferent neuron
Balpha efferent neuron This completes the stretch reflex arc.
Review: what happens when the stretch receptor is stretched? Notice the change in frequency of action potentials.
What events will stretch the stretch receptor?

Stretch of the entire muscle (tap the patellar tendon, watch the foot jerk!)

Stretch of the entire muscle (tap the patellar tendon, watch the foot jerk!) OR

Stretch of the entire muscle (tap the patellar tendon, watch the foot jerk!) OR Contraction of the intrafusal muscle fiber!

What would make this happen?
Reminder: The intrafusal muscle fibers are innervated by gamma efferent neurons.

This will occur any time the gamma efferent fiber stimulates the intrafusal muscle fiber.
Cgamma efferent neuron to intrafusal muscle fiber
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C F
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C F E
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C F E A
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C F E A B
What if we could stimulate C? Work through the sequence: C F E A B D
This seems like a stupid thing to do because it would be easier just to stimulate the extrafusal muscle fiber with the alpha efferent neuron. But look what actually happens:
Descending neurons (pyramidal tracts!) stimulate both alpha and gamma neurons.
Both the intrafusal fibers AND the extrafusal fibers contract to the same extent. The stretch receptor doesnt feel a thing!
What if the load is too big for the muscle to lift? What happens to the stretch receptor?
It becomes stretched (the muscle doesnt shorten, remember?) and increases the frequency of action potentials along the stretch receptor afferent..
which stimulates only the alpha efferent, causing the extrafusal muscle fiber to generate greater amounts of tension.
This combined stimulation of the alpha and gamma efferent neurons sets up a situation in which there will automatically be an increase in tension of the muscle if the load is too heavy. This combined stimulation of the two neuron types is called alpha-gamma co-activation.
Control of the Gamma Motor System (Fusimotor System)

Gamma signal excited by the bulboreticular facilatory area of the brain stem. Secondarily by areas that send impulses to this area.
cerebellum, basal ganglia, cortex
Little is known about the precise control of this system.
Clinical Application of the Stretch Reflex( myotatic reflex)

Knee jerk reflex
striking the patellar tendon with a hammer stretches the quadriceps muscle. this initiates a stretch reflex which shortens the muscle and causes the knee to move forward.
Can be done with almost any muscle. Index of the facilitation of the gamma efferents. Cortical lesions usually increase muscle stretch reflexes.
Golgi Tendon Reflex

Mediated by the golgi tendon organ receptor located in the tendon. This receptor responds to tension. When the tension becomes too great the reflex inhibits the motor fibers attached to the tendon. Function is to equalize force among muscle fibers.
Golgi Tendon Reflex

Opposite effect of stretch reflex
Muscle relaxation and lengthening in response to contraction
Polysynaptic Muscle tension increases during contraction

Golgi tendon organs activates afferent impulse spinal cord cerebellum
At same time motor neurons in cord supplying contracting muscle inhibited

Antagonistic muscles activated
Reciprocal activation
Contracting muscle relaxed, antagonistic activated
Transmission of Stretch Information to Higher Centers

Muscle spindle and golgi tendon signals are transmitted to higher centers. This informs the brain of the tension and stretch of the muscle. Information is transmitted at 120 m/sec. Important for feedback control of motor activity.
The Withdrawal Reflexes

A painful stimulus causes the limb to automatically withdraw from the stimulus. Neural pathways for reflex:
nociceptor activation transmitted to the spinal cord synapses with pool of interneurons that diverge the to the muscles for withdrawal, inhibit antagonist muscles, and activate reverberating circuits to prolong muscle contraction duration of the afterdischarge depends on strength of the stimulus
Withdrawal Reflex
Crossed Extensor Reflex
Painful stimulus elicits a flexor reflex in affected limb and an extensor reflex in the opposite limb. Extensor reflex begins 0.2 - 0.5 seconds after the painful stimulus. Serves to push body away from the stimulus, also to shift weight to the opposite limb.
Examples of Reflexes:
Crossed extensor reflex
1. Stimulus sensed on one side 2. sensory neuron to spinal cord, 3. synapse with association neuron; synapse with motor neuron (to withdraw on same side) & impulse crosses to opposite side of cord, synapse with motor neuron (to extend opposite appendage) 4. Motor neurons to muscle cells/ motor units
14 June 2007
Reflexes.ppt
73
Crossed Extensor Reflexes
Neuronal Circuits for Withdrawal and Crossed Extensor Reflex
The Stretch Reflex
Other Reflexes for Posture and Locomotion

Positive support reaction Pressure on the bottom of the feet cause extensor reflex. Magnet reaction Cord righting reflexes Righting from a lying posture
Stepping and walking movements

Basic walking reflexes reside in the spinal cord. Rhythmical stepping movements of single limb Reciprocal stepping of opposite limb Mark time reflex Diagonal stepping of all four limbs Galloping reflex
Scratch reflex
Initiated by itch and tickle sensation Involves
Position sense To and fro scratching movements
Reflexes that Cause Muscle Spasm

Pain signals can cause reflex activation and spasm of local muscles Muscles around a broken bone. Inflammation of peritoneum can cause abdominal muscle spasm. Muscle cramps caused by painful stimulus in muscle:
can be due to cold, ischemia, of overactivity reflex contraction increases painful stimulus and causes more muscle contraction
Autonomic reflexes in spinal cord

Vascular tone changes in response to temprature Sweating Intestino-Intestinal reflexes Peritoneo-intestinal reflexes Evacuation reflexes Mass reflex
Spontaneus discharge from large cord segments Flexor spasm of body Colon and bladder likely to evacuate Raised arterial pressure Profuse sweating in large areas of body
Spinal shock
Loss of all spinal functions in response to sudden transaction of cord
Mechanism
Loss of tonic excitation from Reticulospinal tracts Vestibulospinal tracts Corticospinal tracts
Spinal functions affected are

Decreased arterial blood pressures Blocked reflex integeration of muscles Loss of sacral reflexes

Spinal Cord

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U N I T XI

Textbook of Medical Physiology, 11th Edition

GUYTON & HALL

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Spinal Animal Decerebrate Animal

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Motor Organization of the Spinal Cord

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Anterior Motor Neurons

Gamma motor neurons

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Interneurons and Propriospinal Fibers

Renshaw cell inhibitory system

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Sensory Receptors of the Muscle

Golgi Tendon Organ

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Functional Anatomy of Muscle Spindles

Gamma efferent fibers

Also alpha efferent fibers

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

The Muscle Spindle

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Annulospiral primary Dynamic Response

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Static Response of the Muscle Spindle

Dynamic Response of the Muscle Spindle

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Physiologic Function of the Muscle Spindle

Function of the Muscle Spindle

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Response characteristics of the stretch receptor

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Muscle Spindle Animation

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Function of the Gamma System

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Review of reflex arc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

The Stretch Reflex

Once spindles are activated, sensory neurons send AP at higher frequency

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Muscle Stretch Reflex

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

The Stretch Reflex

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

The Stretch Reflex

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Dextrafusal muscle fiber Estretch receptor Fintrafusal muscle fiber

Copyright 2006 by Elsevier, Inc.

Astretch receptor afferent neuron