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Anatomy and Physiology of Motor Systems

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Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring

Abstract

The anatomy and the physiology of motor systems have been studied extensively in animal experiments. However, the animals used in the 1970s, when large studies of the function of the motor systems were performed, were mainly cats, the motor systems of which have considerable differences from that of humans. Even when monkeys were used later for studies of the motor system, it became evident that their motor systems were also different from that of humans. The limited possibilities of studying the neurophysiology of the human motor systems have framed our understanding of the human motor systems.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Babinski sign: extension of the great toe and abduction of the other toes instead of the normal flexion reflex to plantar stimulation, considered indicative of corticospinal tract involvement (“positive” Babinski). (Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary).

  2. 2.

    Joubert syndrome: agenesis of the cerebellar vermis, characterized clinically by attacks of tachypnea or prolonged apnea, abnormal eye movements, ataxia, and mental retardation. (Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary).

  3. 3.

    Spasticity: One type of increase in muscle tone at rest, characterized by increased resistance to passive stretch, velocity dependent, and asymmetric about joints (i.e., greater in the flexor muscles at the elbow and the extensor muscles at the knee). Exaggerated deep tendon reflexes and clonus are additional manifestations. (Stedman’s Electronic Medical Dictionary).

  4. 4.

    Hemiazygos vein: formed by the merger of the left ascending lumbar vein with the left subcostal vein or a communication from the inferior vena cava, it pierces the left crus of the diaphragm, ascends along the left side of the bodies of the lower thoracic vertebrae, opposite the eighth vertebra, crosses the midline posterior to the aorta, thoracic duct, and esophagus and empties into the azygos vein, sometimes in common with the accessory hemiazygos vein.

  5. 5.

    The Jendrassik maneuver is used clinically to increase the excitability of lower extremity stretch reflexes. Practically, the patient is asked to hook the hands together by the flexed fingers and strongly pull against them while the monosynaptic stretch reflex is activated by tapping on the patella tendon or by stimulating a peripheral nerve to elicit the H-reflex.

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  1. School of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Aage R. Møller PhD (DMedSci)

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Møller, A.R. (2011). Anatomy and Physiology of Motor Systems. In: Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7436-5_9

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