Spasticity is a common clinically detectable sign that accompanies a unilateral upper motor neuron lesion of the lateral corticospinal tracts. This can manifest as increased muscle tone, brisk reflexes, and exaggerated muscle contractions in response to certain stimuli.
Hypertonicity in upper motor neuron lesions occurs due to a loss of inhibitory signals from the brain to the spinal cord, leading to increased excitatory signals and muscle tone. This results in overactivity of muscle reflexes and stiffness in the affected muscles.
Upper motor neurons: they are the motor cells of cerebral cortex and subcortical centres whose axons constitue the pyramidal and extra-pyramidal tracts(which then descend to end around the motor nuclei of cranial nerves in brainstem and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord)Lower motor neurons: they are the cells of motor nuclei of cranial nerves and anterior horn cells of spinal cords, and their axons which constitute the motor fibres of the peripheral nerves that terminate in the motor end plate of striated muscles.
Upper motor neurons are responsible for initiating voluntary movements by sending signals from the brain to the lower motor neurons in the spinal cord. They play a crucial role in coordinating and executing motor functions throughout the body. Dysfunction of upper motor neurons can result in symptoms such as muscle weakness, spasticity, and impaired coordination.
Contralateral hemiplegia occurs in patients with upper motor neuron lesions, such as those resulting from a stroke, due to the decussation (crossing) of motor pathways in the central nervous system. Specifically, the majority of fibers in the corticospinal tract cross over at the medulla oblongata, meaning that damage to the motor cortex in one hemisphere affects the motor control of the opposite side of the body. This disruption leads to weakness or paralysis on the side of the body opposite to the lesion. Thus, a stroke in the left hemisphere typically results in contralateral (right-sided) hemiplegia.
Spasticity is a common clinically detectable sign that accompanies a unilateral upper motor neuron lesion of the lateral corticospinal tracts. This can manifest as increased muscle tone, brisk reflexes, and exaggerated muscle contractions in response to certain stimuli.
Cranial nerves that have a motor function tend to be bilaterally innervated. In other words, the right accessory nerve (XI) receives input from both the right and the left motor cortex. The same goes for the left accessory nerve.This is a handy advantage in strokes, since upper motor neurone lesions must therefore be bilateral in order to cause a deficit.The one major exception to this rule is the facial nerve (VII). Only the forehead muscles are bilaterally innervated, so even a unilateral upper motor neurone lesion can cause mouth drooping, etc. However, this can still often be differentiated from a lower motor neurone lesion, which will not spare the forehead.
LMNLIt is due to lesion of lower motor neurons i.e. the spinal and cranial motor neurons that directly innervate the muscles.Usually single or individual muscle is affected.Disuse atrophy of muscles.All reflexes are absent.flaccid paralysis occurs.Babinski planter response not elicited.2. UMNLIt is due to upper motor neuron lesion.It involves group of muscles.spastic paralysis occurs.muscle atrophy is not severe.reflexesdeep reflexes are hyperactive.superficial refle;xes;only abdominal,cremastric and anal reflexes are lost.Babinski sign:positive.AI'IGHT,UUUMMM HOPE THIS HELPS :) LOWER MOTOR NEURON LESION: vs UPPER MOTOR NEURON LESION:1)FLACCID MUSCLE SPASTICITY OF MUSCLE2)HYPO-TONIA HYPER-TONIA3)HYPO-REFLEXIA HYPER-REFLEXIA4)PROFOUND MUSCLE ATROPHY MINIMAL MUSCLE ATROPHY5)FASCICULATIONS("TWITCHING") PRESENT FASCICULATIONS ABSNTSO JUST REMEMBER: LOWER = HYPO- EVERYTHING ; UPPER = HYPER- EVERYTHING,WELL, EXCEPT OFCOURSE - THE TWITCHING AND MUSCLE ATROPHY (ITS REVERSED).
because the superficial reflex fibres also come through the umn fibres along with it
Hypertonicity in upper motor neuron lesions occurs due to a loss of inhibitory signals from the brain to the spinal cord, leading to increased excitatory signals and muscle tone. This results in overactivity of muscle reflexes and stiffness in the affected muscles.
This is caused usually by compression on the spinal cord in the neck; Cervial = neck & Myelopathy = disease of spianl cord. Compression may be from bony overgrowth in the spine. Symptoms will depend how far down the compression is with weakness and loss of sensation present from somewhere in the arms, all the way down the chest and back to the feet. More specifically at the level of the lesion the muscles supplied by that nerve root will display lower motor neurone signs (wasting, fasciluation, loss of tone and decreased/absent reflexes) and all levels below will have upper motor neurone signs (spasticity, brisk reflexes, clonus). Bladder and bowel function may be affected e.g. incontinence.
This is caused usually by compression on the spinal cord in the neck; Cervial = neck & Myelopathy = disease of spianl cord. Compression may be from bony overgrowth in the spine. Symptoms will depend how far down the compression is with weakness and loss of sensation present from somewhere in the arms, all the way down the chest and back to the feet. More specifically at the level of the lesion the muscles supplied by that nerve root will display lower motor neurone signs (wasting, fasciluation, loss of tone and decreased/absent reflexes) and all levels below will have upper motor neurone signs (spasticity, brisk reflexes, clonus). Bladder and bowel function may be affected e.g. incontinence.
Anatomic location of the lesion would be below the cortex, in the white matter or the cerebral hemispheres or upper part of the brain stem.
Upper motor neurons: they are the motor cells of cerebral cortex and subcortical centres whose axons constitue the pyramidal and extra-pyramidal tracts(which then descend to end around the motor nuclei of cranial nerves in brainstem and anterior horn cells of the spinal cord)Lower motor neurons: they are the cells of motor nuclei of cranial nerves and anterior horn cells of spinal cords, and their axons which constitute the motor fibres of the peripheral nerves that terminate in the motor end plate of striated muscles.
corticospinal tracts are the tracts of the upper motor neurons which originate in the cortex,(precentral gyrus). They terminate in the spinal cord by synapsing with the lower motor neurons either directly or through an interneuron. lesion to the corticospinal tract results in Spastic paralysis on the opp side if the lesion is above pyramidal decussation or before crossing over. Positive Babinski's sign loss of fine coordination in the distal limbs such as piano playing or typing
When a patient displays normal integration of a primitive supporting reflex in response to a stimulus (i.e.: gravity). This indicates no upper motor neuron lesion in the brain region responsible for integrating the tested primitive reflex.
Sample sentence: The lesion was located on the upper posterior of the torso, below the shoulder blade.