Motor Cortex

• What role does the spinal cord play in voluntary movements?

  It transmits signals from the motor cortex to muscles
• What are the characteristics of areas in the motor cortex based on movement precision?

  • Precise control areas (e.g. hands, face) have larger cortical areas
  • Less precise areas (e.g. trunk) have smaller cortical areas
• Describe the orientation and extent of the motor cortex.

  • Runs vertically along the middle of the brain
  • Extends across both hemispheres
• What does somatotopic organization in the motor cortex mean?

  Body parts are mapped in an anatomical arrangement
• What is the primary function of the motor cortex?

  Command center for voluntary movements
• What does the motor homunculus illustrate?

  • Enlarged hands and face
  • Demonstrates somatotopic organization in action
• What does the diagram of the motor cortex illustrate?

  • Motor cortex controls specific body areas
  • Areas are marked to show control regions
• What does somatotopic mapping in the motor homunculus indicate?

  • Areas needing precision have larger cortical areas
  • The hand and face have more brain space than the trunk
  • Reflects the brain's allocation of control for body parts
• What happens when you raise your arm in terms of motor cortex function?

  It coordinates shoulder, elbow, forearm, and hand movements
• How does the motor cortex differ from reflexes?

  Motor cortex controls voluntary, reflexes are involuntary
• How does the motor cortex communicate with muscles?

  It sends signals down the spinal cord
• Where is the motor cortex located?

  At the rear end of the frontal lobe
• What happens when you decide to raise your arm?

  The motor cortex coordinates muscle actions
• How is the arrangement of the motor cortex across brain hemispheres?

  It is mirrored across both hemispheres
• Which body part has a larger cortical area in the motor homunculus?

  The hand
• How does the motor homunculus illustrate the brain's control over body parts?

  It shows larger areas for precise control regions
• Why are body parts represented disproportionately in the motor homunculus?

  Due to the precision of control they require
• What is the motor homunculus?

  A visual representation of the motor cortex
• What are the three steps in the motor cortex's control of movement?

  1. Cortex plans movement
  2. Sends signals via motor neurons
  3. Muscles contract precisely
• Which body parts have larger areas in the motor cortex?

  Hands and face
• What type of movements does the motor cortex control?

  Voluntary movements
• Which body part has a smaller area in the motor cortex?

  Trunk
• What is located immediately in front of the motor cortex?

  The primary somatosensory cortex
• How does cortical mapping reflect the body's shape?

  It distorts proportions based on movement precision