Upper motor neuron lesion

Upper motor neuron lesion
The motor tract.
Classification and external resources
DiseasesDB	27852

An upper motor neuron lesion (also known as pyramidal insufficiency) is a lesion of the neural pathway above the anterior horn cell of the spinal cord or motor nuclei of the cranial nerves. This is in contrast to a lower motor neuron lesion, which affects nerve fibers traveling from the anterior horn of the spinal cord or the cranial motor nuclei to the relevant muscle(s).^[1]

Upper motor neuron lesions occur in conditions affecting motor neurons in the brain or spinal cord such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.

Symptoms

Changes in muscle performance can be broadly described as the upper motor neuron syndrome. These changes vary depending on the site and the extent of the lesion, and may include:

• Muscle weakness. A pattern of weakness in the extensors (upper limbs) or flexors (lower limbs),^[2] is known as 'pyramidal weakness'
• Decreased control of active movement, particularly slowness
• Spasticity, a velocity-dependent change in muscle tone
• Clasp-knife response where initial higher resistance to movement is followed by a lesser resistance
• Babinski sign is present, where the big toe is raised (extended) rather than curled downwards (flexed) upon appropriate stimulation of the sole of the foot. The presence of the Babinski sign is an abnormal response in adulthood. Normally, during the plantar reflex, it causes plantar flexion and the adduction of the toes. In Babinski's sign, there is dorsiflexion of the big toe and abduction of the other toes. Physiologically, it is normally present in infants from birth to 12 months. The presence of the Babinski sign after 12 months is the sign of a non-specific upper motor neuron lesion.
• Increased deep tendon reflex (DTR)
• Pronator drift ^[3]

Corticospinal/pyramidal tract

These are the neural tracts which descend in the lateral grey columns of the spinal cord, carrying signals for voluntary movement of skeletal muscle. These nerve fibers usually originate in the primary motor cortex, pass via the corona radiata to gather in the internal capsule before crossing over to the opposite side (decussation) in the medullary pyramids and proceeding down the spinal cord to meet lower motor neurons in the anterior grey column.

See also

• Upper motor neuron
• Lower motor neuron
• Lower motor neuron lesion

References

External links

• http://www.med.yale.edu/caim/cnerves/cn7/cn7_13.html
• http://www.lib.mcg.edu/edu/eshuphysio/program/section8/8ch3/s8ch3_34.htm