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UMN lesion and LMN lesions
- Saroj kumar jha
13-Nov-15
 Mass of muscle: Actually the motor nerves always secrete small amount
of neurotransmitters at NMJ that acts as trophic stimulators (growth factors) for
muscle bundle supplied by that nerve. In case of LMN lesion, the alpha motor
neurons fail to release Ach at NMJ so the muscle mass gradually reduces. This is
called Denervation atrophy. Also Disuse atrophy is there due to lack of innervations.
But the case is not the same with UMN lesion where the lower motor neuron(alpha
motor neuron) is intact and secretes Ach at NMJ that maintains the mass of muscle.
So the mass of muscle in case of UMN is not reduced so much as compared to LMN
lesion. But Disuse atrophy is there also in UMN lesion .
 Tone of muscle: Tone of muscle is maintained by the intactness of gamma
motor neuron which is a component of lower motor neuron. In case of LMN lesion,
the supply of gamma motor efferent to muscle spindle is cut, so it results in reduced
afferent signals(gamma afferent) from gamma afferent to alpha motor neurons that
results in decreased tone of the muscle. The point to be noted here is: Even if the
gaama afferent is correct the alpha motor neuron cannot fire for the contraction of
muscle that results in hpotonia or flaccidity. But in case of UMN lesion, the gamma
afferent and efferent is all intact along with alpha motor neurons. Also, there is no
inhibitory influence from upper motor neuron to alpha motor neuron which results
in overfiring and ultimately hypertonia or rigidity results.
 Tendon reflex: Areflexia or Hyporeflexia in case of LMN lesion due to less
firing of gamma afferents, gamma efferents and alpha motor neurons. But in case of
UMN lesion, there is over firing of gamma afferents, gamma efferents and alpha
motor neurons due to inhibition of inhibitory supply from UMN that results in
Hyperreflexia. Clonus may be present. i.e. slight stretch in tendon may produce
exaggerated reflex response due to over firing.
 Power of muscle: Power of muscle is highly reduced in case of LMN
lesion due to damage in LMN that is due to reduced firing of LMN. But in case of
UMN lesion, the LMN can efficiently fire so the power is maintained but reduced
slightly as there ia loss in control from UMN.
 Babinski reflex: This reflex is by the influence of UMN. Normally when
there is scratch on the lateral border of sole of foot, there is withdrawl reflex i.e.
there is dorsiflexion. In case of UMN lesion, there is plantarflexion and fanning of
toes. This case is also seen in babies without UMN lesion, due to incomplete
development of UMN in terms of myelination. There is reversal of spinal reflex i.e.
there is strong plantarflexion that leads the baby to learn and start walking. While
walking due to plantar flexion the baby is able to stand. Otherwise, due to normal
withdrawl reflex the baby would fall each time he/she takes his/her foot onto the
ground. In case of LMN lesion these signs Babinski’s sign are simply absent.
Note: i)Tone is the resistance felt when flexion or extension is produced.
ii)Spasticity is special case of hypertonia/rigidity in which there is phenomenon of
clasp-knifing i.e. sudden loss of rigidity while performing flexion and/or extension. In
case of UMN lesion, ther is rigidity felt when extending forearm due to over function
of gamma afferents, muscle spindle stretch reflex. But the resistance is lost when the
Golgi tendon organ is stimulated due to tremendous increasing in tension in a
tendon while extending the forearm. Hence clasp knife reaction is due to switch of
muscle spindle reflex to golgi tendon organ reflex.
iii)Lead pipe rigidity: mainly seen in parkinsons disease due to degeneration of
nigrostriatal pathway which leads to interruption of inhibition to alpha motor
neurons by extrapyramidal tract. Since, extrapyramidal tract response is less( i.e. due
to slightlt less inhibition, there is slightly more overfiring, there is not so severe
rigidity that would lead to activation of golgi tendon organ. So, there is continuous
rigidity in flexing or extending unlike clasp-knife relex i.e. the resistant in constant as
is when we try to bend a lead pipe.
iv) Cog wheel rigidity: lead pipe rigidity + tremors i.e. rigidity intervened by tremors.
 Fasciculation and Fibrillation: Absent in UMN lesion and present in LMN
lesion. Whem you tap muscle mechanically, muscles show some involuntary
contractions called as fasciculation, and the same phenomenon when
demonstrated electrically is called fibrillation.
 When a nerve is cut(LMN lesion) and a particular target cell loses all its Ach
signaling, the cell nuclear machinery thinks that there is less receptor and it
synthesizes more no of receptors. Due to more no of receptors slight tapping
of muscle mechanically stimulates the wide no receptors and action potential
is generated that results in fasciculation and if this is detected only
electrically it is called fibrillation. This oversensitivity of muscle is called
Denervation hypersensitivity. But this is absent in case of UMN lesion
because in this case the lower motor neuron fires continuously and ther is no
increase in no of receptors , so no hypersensitivity and no fasciculation an
dfibrillatin in case of UMN lesion because slight tapping of muscle opens only
small no of receptors incapable of firing to threshold and subsequent muscle
contraction.
THANK YOU!

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UMN lesion and LMN lesions

  • 1. UMN lesion and LMN lesions - Saroj kumar jha 13-Nov-15  Mass of muscle: Actually the motor nerves always secrete small amount of neurotransmitters at NMJ that acts as trophic stimulators (growth factors) for muscle bundle supplied by that nerve. In case of LMN lesion, the alpha motor neurons fail to release Ach at NMJ so the muscle mass gradually reduces. This is called Denervation atrophy. Also Disuse atrophy is there due to lack of innervations. But the case is not the same with UMN lesion where the lower motor neuron(alpha motor neuron) is intact and secretes Ach at NMJ that maintains the mass of muscle. So the mass of muscle in case of UMN is not reduced so much as compared to LMN lesion. But Disuse atrophy is there also in UMN lesion .  Tone of muscle: Tone of muscle is maintained by the intactness of gamma motor neuron which is a component of lower motor neuron. In case of LMN lesion, the supply of gamma motor efferent to muscle spindle is cut, so it results in reduced afferent signals(gamma afferent) from gamma afferent to alpha motor neurons that results in decreased tone of the muscle. The point to be noted here is: Even if the gaama afferent is correct the alpha motor neuron cannot fire for the contraction of muscle that results in hpotonia or flaccidity. But in case of UMN lesion, the gamma afferent and efferent is all intact along with alpha motor neurons. Also, there is no inhibitory influence from upper motor neuron to alpha motor neuron which results in overfiring and ultimately hypertonia or rigidity results.  Tendon reflex: Areflexia or Hyporeflexia in case of LMN lesion due to less firing of gamma afferents, gamma efferents and alpha motor neurons. But in case of UMN lesion, there is over firing of gamma afferents, gamma efferents and alpha motor neurons due to inhibition of inhibitory supply from UMN that results in Hyperreflexia. Clonus may be present. i.e. slight stretch in tendon may produce exaggerated reflex response due to over firing.  Power of muscle: Power of muscle is highly reduced in case of LMN lesion due to damage in LMN that is due to reduced firing of LMN. But in case of UMN lesion, the LMN can efficiently fire so the power is maintained but reduced slightly as there ia loss in control from UMN.  Babinski reflex: This reflex is by the influence of UMN. Normally when there is scratch on the lateral border of sole of foot, there is withdrawl reflex i.e. there is dorsiflexion. In case of UMN lesion, there is plantarflexion and fanning of
  • 2. toes. This case is also seen in babies without UMN lesion, due to incomplete development of UMN in terms of myelination. There is reversal of spinal reflex i.e. there is strong plantarflexion that leads the baby to learn and start walking. While walking due to plantar flexion the baby is able to stand. Otherwise, due to normal withdrawl reflex the baby would fall each time he/she takes his/her foot onto the ground. In case of LMN lesion these signs Babinski’s sign are simply absent. Note: i)Tone is the resistance felt when flexion or extension is produced. ii)Spasticity is special case of hypertonia/rigidity in which there is phenomenon of clasp-knifing i.e. sudden loss of rigidity while performing flexion and/or extension. In case of UMN lesion, ther is rigidity felt when extending forearm due to over function of gamma afferents, muscle spindle stretch reflex. But the resistance is lost when the Golgi tendon organ is stimulated due to tremendous increasing in tension in a tendon while extending the forearm. Hence clasp knife reaction is due to switch of muscle spindle reflex to golgi tendon organ reflex. iii)Lead pipe rigidity: mainly seen in parkinsons disease due to degeneration of nigrostriatal pathway which leads to interruption of inhibition to alpha motor neurons by extrapyramidal tract. Since, extrapyramidal tract response is less( i.e. due to slightlt less inhibition, there is slightly more overfiring, there is not so severe rigidity that would lead to activation of golgi tendon organ. So, there is continuous rigidity in flexing or extending unlike clasp-knife relex i.e. the resistant in constant as is when we try to bend a lead pipe. iv) Cog wheel rigidity: lead pipe rigidity + tremors i.e. rigidity intervened by tremors.  Fasciculation and Fibrillation: Absent in UMN lesion and present in LMN lesion. Whem you tap muscle mechanically, muscles show some involuntary contractions called as fasciculation, and the same phenomenon when demonstrated electrically is called fibrillation.  When a nerve is cut(LMN lesion) and a particular target cell loses all its Ach signaling, the cell nuclear machinery thinks that there is less receptor and it synthesizes more no of receptors. Due to more no of receptors slight tapping of muscle mechanically stimulates the wide no receptors and action potential is generated that results in fasciculation and if this is detected only electrically it is called fibrillation. This oversensitivity of muscle is called Denervation hypersensitivity. But this is absent in case of UMN lesion because in this case the lower motor neuron fires continuously and ther is no increase in no of receptors , so no hypersensitivity and no fasciculation an
  • 3. dfibrillatin in case of UMN lesion because slight tapping of muscle opens only small no of receptors incapable of firing to threshold and subsequent muscle contraction. THANK YOU!