Motor system. 

In the lecture, we begin with movement classification. We will explain the terms upper and lower alpha motoneuron and motor unit. We will describe reflex movements, including stretch, tendon and skin reflexes; furthermore, rhythmic movements controlled by central pattern generators, with locomotion as an example; we will describe the functions of the postural motor system and its control; we will describe the characteristics of voluntary movements and the main structures involved in its control; we will describe the basic descending motor pathways. We will describe the cerebellum and basal ganglia and their involvement in motor control, including the main clinical symptoms of their lesions. We will classify eye movements according to function and triggering sensory stimuli.

Basic terms:

Reflexive, rhythmic and voluntary movements. Upper and lower alpha motoneurons. Sensorimotor transformation. Motor unit. Reflex, reflex arc, hyporeflexia, hyperreflexia; paresis, plegia. Proprioception, muscle spindles, tendon organ. Central pattern generators. Automatic postural response. Primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, and supplementary motor area. Corticospinal pathways. Paleocerebelum, neocerebelum; hypotonia, ataxia, intentional tremor. Hypokinetic syndrome, hyperkinetic syndrome. Saccadic eye movements, slow pursuit movements, vestibulo-ocular reflex, optokinetic reflex, vergence eye movements, fixation.