Interruption of a relay of corticospinal excitation by a spinal lesion at C6-C7.
In a patient with a limited lesion of the spinal cord at the C6-C7 junction, ulnar and superficial radial-induced modulations of the motor evoked potentials (MEP) and of ongoing electromyographic (EMG) activity were observed in the biceps (above the lesion) but not in the triceps (below the lesion). This suggests an interruption of the axons of cervical propriospinal neurons. This relay transmits an indirect (disynaptic) component of corticospinal excitation to human upper limb motoneurons. Changes in it might be involved in compensatory mechanisms following central motor disorders.
Marchand-Pauvert
V
V
Service de Rééducation, Neurophysiologie Clinique, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 47 Bd de l'hôpital, 75651 Paris, France.
Mazevet
D
D
Pradat-Diehl
P
P
Alstermark
B
B
Pierrot-Deseilligny
E
E
D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000502:physiology