Autonomic Nervous System &

Central Nervous System

Dr. Romain Perera

Learning Outcomes
Describe Motor and Sensory System
Describe LMN & UMN
Outline the functions of extra Pyramidal

system
What is Dominant Hemisphere
Briefly explain stretch reflex
Name Pathways for Pain, Vibration & Touch
Briefly describe Autonomic Nervous System

UMN cell bodies are situated in the motor cortex and

project axons via the corticospinal tracts to the spinal

cord
They synapse in the anterior horn with lower motor
neurons, which project axons via peripheral nerves
that then contact muscle fibers at the neuromuscular
junction
Lower motor neurons originating in the brain stem that
control speech and swallowing (bulbar motor neurons)
Lower motor neurons that originate in the spinal cord
that control limb and respiratory muscles, may both be
affected.

Pyramidal System
Most impulses from the motor cortex travel through

the internal capsule to the medulla, where they

cross (decussate) to the opposite side and continue
down the spinal cord as the lateral corticospinal
tract, ending in the anterior horn of the gray matter
at a specific spinal cord level. Some fibers do not
cross in the medulla but continue down the anterior
corticospinal tract and cross near the level of
termination in the anterior horn. The fibers of the
pyramidal tract are considered upper motor neurons.

Extra Pyramidal System

Motor impulses that regulate involuntary

muscle tone and muscle control travel along

the extrapyramidal tract from the premotor
area of the frontal lobe to the pons of the
brain stem, where they cross to the opposite
side

Sensory System
Nociceptors(specialiseds ensory receptors that respond to

pain) can cause chronic pain if they are damaged

(A) In the normal state, if a nociceptori s activated by a
noxious stimulus, the nerve cell transmits the information
via the sensory system to create a painful sensation in the
brain
(B) If the nociceptor is damaged, it can start firing
randomly and activate other nerves that eventually cause
phantom pain
(C) If the nociceptor was an inhibitory nerve, its
inactivation through damage could activate other nerves in
the sensory network that eventually cause phantom pain.

Stretch Reflex

Somatic Nervous System

Innervate skeletal muscle
Unique mechanism occurs at the

neuromuscular junction
Motor unit recruitment permits a graded
response in the muscle organ
Slow (Type I) and fast (Type II) twitch muscle
fibers

AUTONOMIC Nervous System

Sympathetic and
parasympathetic
Two neuron system
postsynaptic neurotransmitter (NE verses

Ach)
Position of ganglion
ANS is important in stress and other
behavioral responses "fight or flight" response