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Related Concept Videos

Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

61.9K
A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
61.9K
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

8.1K
The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
8.1K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

3.8K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
3.8K
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

6.2K
The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
6.2K
Direct Motor Pathways01:11

Direct Motor Pathways

4.5K
The direct motor pathways, also known as the pyramidal tracts, are a group of neural pathways that originate in the brain and descend through the spinal cord. They control the voluntary movement of the body. There are two major direct motor pathways: the corticospinal and the corticobulbar tracts.
The corticospinal tract is responsible for the voluntary movement of the limbs and trunk. It originates in the cerebral cortex of the brain and descends through the cerebrum's internal capsule and...
4.5K
Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

10.7K
Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular...
10.7K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

ALS - Motor Neuron Disease: Mechanism and Development of New Therapies
15:48

ALS - Motor Neuron Disease: Mechanism and Development of New Therapies

Published on: July 29, 2007

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Motor neurone disease.

Thanuja Dharmadasa1, José Manuel Matamala1, William Huynh2

  • 1Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|November 29, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Motor neurone disease (MND) patients experience falls due to impaired gait and balance. This review explores multifactorial causes and disease-specific interventions for fall prevention in MND.

Keywords:
fallsgaitmotor neurone diseaseneurodegenerationpostural stabilitywalking

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Extracellularly Identifying Motor Neurons for a Muscle Motor Pool in Aplysia californica
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Intramuscular Injections Along the Motor End Plates: A Minimally Invasive Approach to Shuttle Tracers Directly into Motor Neurons
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Extracellularly Identifying Motor Neurons for a Muscle Motor Pool in Aplysia californica
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Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Movement Disorders
  • Rehabilitation Science

Background:

  • Motor neurone disease (MND) significantly impacts gait, balance, and postural control, increasing fall risk.
  • Falls in MND patients are common, contributing to disease burden and reduced quality of life.
  • The causes of falls in MND are multifactorial, stemming from both motor and extramotor symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiological factors contributing to gait disturbance and postural instability in MND.
  • To explore the influence of cognitive, autonomic, cerebellar, sensory, and extrapyramidal impairments on falls.
  • To outline disease-specific interventions for assessing, managing, and preventing falls in the MND population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on gait, balance, postural control, and falls in Motor Neurone Disease.
  • Analysis of the interplay between motor and extramotor symptoms affecting mobility.
  • Synthesis of current knowledge on fall-related pathophysiology and interventions.

Main Results:

  • Motor degeneration directly impacts gait speed and cycle, leading to disorganized gait patterns.
  • Extramotor factors like cognitive impairment and autonomic dysregulation significantly contribute to postural instability.
  • Combined impairments result in heterogeneous and unpredictable fall risks.

Conclusions:

  • Falls in MND are complex, influenced by a combination of motor and extramotor deficits.
  • Understanding these multifactorial causes is crucial for effective fall management.
  • Disease-specific interventions are needed to address the unique challenges faced by MND patients in preventing falls.