Motor Functions of the Spinal Cord; the Cord Reflexes

Sensory signals enter the cord almost entirely through the sensory
(posterior) roots. After entering the cord, every
sensory signal travels to two separate destinations
Local segmental nerve: terminates almost immediately in the gray
matter of the cord and elicits local segmental reflexes and other local
effects.
Higher Center Nerve :higher levels of the nervous system-to higher
levels in the cord itself, to the brain stem, or even to the cerebral
cortex
Two types of Neurons
Anterior Motor Neurons :
1. 50-60 percent larger than other neurons
2. Innervate skeletal muscle fibers
3. Leave through anterior roots






Interneurons
Present in all areas of cord gray matter
Lie between anterior horns,dorsal horns and areas b/w these two
30 X more than alpha ones
Small highly excitable
Can fire 1500/s
Synapse with one and another and also with alpha motor neurons
Include diverging, convergin and repetitive discharge fibers
Receive few sensory signals e.g corticospinal tract



Alpha motor
neurons
Give rise to A alpha nerve fibers
14 um in diameter
Excite 3-several 100 skeletal muscle fibers
(Motor Unit)

Gamma Motor
neurons
smaller than alpha motor neurons
Give rise to type A gamma
5 um
Innervate Intrafusal fibers

Renshaw Cells :
* Inhibitory neurons
* Located in anterior horns
Collateral branches from anterior motor neurons pass to Renshaw cells which inhibit adjacent
motor neurons . This process is called Lateral inhibition.
Lateral inhibition focuses and sharpens signals
Propriospinal fibers
These fibers runs from one segment to another
Provide intersegmental pathways for multisegmental reflexes
Muscle Sensory Receptors
(1) muscle spindles
(2) Golgi tendon organs

Muscle Spindle :
Each spindle is 3-10mm long
Intrafusal Fibers :
Contain 3-12 intrafusal fibers which are attached to the glycocalyx of
extrafusal fibers
Tiny skeletal muscle fiber
Central region has no action and myosin
Central portion doesnt contract . End portions do.
End portion are excited by gamma motor fibers ( Type A gamma
fibers ) . also called gamma efferent fibers
Two types of fibers :
1) Nuclear Bag Fiber :
1-3 in each spindle
Nuclear fibers are arranged in expanded bags
2) Nuclear Chain fibers :
3-9
Half diameter as compared to bag fibers
Aligned nuclei
Sensory Innervation
Muscle spindle can be excited bys two ways
1) Lengthening the whole muscle
2) Contraction of end portions
Two nerve endings
1 ) Primary Nerve Ending (annulospiral ending)
Type 1a
17 um
Velocity 17-120 m/sec
Encircles the intrafusal fibers
Innervate both nuclear bag and chain fibers
Secondary Nerve Endings
1 or 2 nerve Fibers
Type II
8 um
Spreads like a bush
Innervate nuclear chain fibers
Static Response :
When receptor portion of the muscle spindle is contracted slowly -
Number of impulses from both primary and secondary endings
increases in proportion to stretch stimulus and continue to send
impulses unless stimulus is removed
It is a response of Primary and Secondary Nerve Ending
Dynamic Response :
Response of Primary Ending
When change in length occurs primary endings are stimulated
powerfully
Respond to Change in length
The gamma motor nerves to the muscle spindle can be divided into two
types:
1)gamma dynamic (gamma-d)
* excites mainly the nuclear bag intrafusal fibers
* the dynamic response of the muscle spindle becomes tremendously
enhanced, whereas the static response is hardly affected.
2) gamma-static (gamma-s).
> excites mainly the nuclear chain fibers
>enhance static response

Muscle continually send impulses to the brain under normal conditions
Stretching : increases impulses +ve signal
Shortening : Decreases impulses ve signal



Golgi Tendon Organs :