Biomaterial Database

Autogenetic reflex action in tibialis anterior compared with that in soleus muscle in the decerebrate cat. 1985

T R Nichols

The regulatory actions of autogenetic reflex pathways on the mechanical properties of an ankle flexor (tibialis anterior) and an extensor (soleus) in the premammillary decerebrate cat were studied. The two muscle were isolated in the same cat and each was stretched during its separate activation. The yield in stiffness shown by areflexive muscles during stretch was largely compensated for in tibialis anterior as well as in soleus by reflex action. Resultant (total) stiffness varied by less than a factor of two over a wide range of contractile forces in the two muscles. Further, resultant stiffness increased as stretch amplitude decreased in both muscles, but the variation was less for TA. In most preparations, the resultant stiffness in soleus was significantly larger than the resultant stiffness of tibialis anterior. It is concluded that autogenetic reflexes govern the mechanical properties of both flexors and extensors. In addition, the extensor bias in the decerebrate preparation is due not only to greater activation in extensors but to a greater resultant stiffness as well.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007839	Functional Laterality	Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot.	Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D009119	Muscle Contraction	A process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in muscle tissue. Muscle contraction occurs by a sliding filament mechanism whereby actin filaments slide inward among the myosin filaments.	Inotropism,Muscular Contraction,Contraction, Muscle,Contraction, Muscular,Contractions, Muscle,Contractions, Muscular,Inotropisms,Muscle Contractions,Muscular Contractions
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009928	Organ Specificity	Characteristic restricted to a particular organ of the body, such as a cell type, metabolic response or expression of a particular protein or antigen.	Tissue Specificity,Organ Specificities,Specificities, Organ,Specificities, Tissue,Specificity, Organ,Specificity, Tissue,Tissue Specificities
D012026	Reflex, Stretch	Reflex contraction of a muscle in response to stretching, which stimulates muscle proprioceptors.	Reflex, Tendon,Stretch Reflex,Tendon Reflex
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D003655	Decerebrate State	A condition characterized by abnormal posturing of the limbs that is associated with injury to the brainstem. This may occur as a clinical manifestation or induced experimentally in animals. The extensor reflexes are exaggerated leading to rigid extension of the limbs accompanied by hyperreflexia and opisthotonus. This condition is usually caused by lesions which occur in the region of the brainstem that lies between the red nuclei and the vestibular nuclei. In contrast, decorticate rigidity is characterized by flexion of the elbows and wrists with extension of the legs and feet. The causative lesion for this condition is located above the red nuclei and usually consists of diffuse cerebral damage. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p358)	Decerebrate Posturing,Decorticate Rigidity,Decorticate State,Rigidity, Decerebrate,Rigidity, Decorticate,Decerebrate Posturings,Decerebrate Rigidity,Decerebrate States,Decorticate Rigidities,Decorticate States,Posturing, Decerebrate,Posturings, Decerebrate,Rigidities, Decorticate,State, Decerebrate,States, Decerebrate
D004558	Electric Stimulation	Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses.	Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013979	Tibial Nerve	The medial terminal branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve fibers originate in lumbar and sacral spinal segments (L4 to S2). They supply motor and sensory innervation to parts of the calf and foot.	Medial Plantar Nerve,Posterior Tibial Nerve,Medial Plantar Nerves,Nerve, Medial Plantar,Nerve, Posterior Tibial,Nerve, Tibial,Nerves, Medial Plantar,Nerves, Posterior Tibial,Nerves, Tibial,Plantar Nerve, Medial,Plantar Nerves, Medial,Posterior Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerve, Posterior,Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerves, Posterior