After entering spinal cord, every sensory signal travels to two destinations:
1). Spinal cord to elicit local cord reflexes
2). Higher levels of nervous system to control the extent of muscle contraction and coordinate body movement
- Cerebral cortex
- Brain stem
- higher levels of spinal cord
2. High levels of nervous system integrate sensory information and send output to cord motor neurons through two pathways:
1). Descending excitatory pathways
2). Descending inhibitory pathways
3. The balance between the two pathways is crucial for normal
motor function
4. Imbalance between the two pathways results in spasticity
1).Enhanced excitatory pathways
- 2). Diminished inhibitory pathway
- these cause hyperexcitability