On the position of the motor centres in the brain in regard to the nutritive and social functions / by T. Lauder Brunton.

  • Brunton, Thomas Lauder, Sir, 1844-1916.
Date:
[1882]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the position of the motor centres in the brain in regard to the nutritive and social functions / by T. Lauder Brunton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Hence the anencephalous infant, or the animal deprived of its brain, are unable to seek food for themselves, although they may swallow it when it is placed within their mouths. Modifi- cations of respiration in producing voice, although exceedingly important for men and animals in their social relations, are comparatively unimportant for the nutrition of the individual, whereas the movements for seeking and obtaining food are essential to its existence. We should therefore expect that the motor centres in the brain would be arranged chiefly with reference to the acquisition of food, and that the centres would be modified in different animals according to the manner in which they obtained their food. That this is really the case appears, I think, from an examination of the functions of the motor centres of the brain as ascertained by Terrier : 1. The eyes open.widely, the pupils dilate, and head and eyes turn towards opposite side. 2. The opposite arm and hand extend forward as if to reach or touch something in front. 3. The opposite arm is retracted and adducted, the palm of the hand being directed backwards. 4. The fore-arm is supinated and flexed, so as to raise the hand to the mouth. 5. The angle of the mouth is retracted and elevated. 6. The ala of the nose and the upper lip are elevated, and the lower lip is depressed, so as to expose the canine teeth on the opposite side. 7. 8. The mouth is opened and the tongue protruded and retracted. The mouth is alternately opened and closed, and the tongue moves. The movements here are distinctly carried out bilaterally. 9. The opposite angle of the mouth is retracted, the platysma myoides ,is thrown into action, and when this is powerful the head is drawn slightly to the side. (a), (h), (c), (d). Individual and combined movements of the fingers and wrist, ending in clenching of the fist. Centres for the extensors and flexors of the individual digits could not be differentiated, but the prehensile movements of the opposite hand are evidently centralised here. 10. Advance of the opposite hind limbs, as in walking. B 2