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upper motor neuron sign (pyramidal tract sign)
Etiology:
- spinal cord disease
- lesions in the corticospinal tract or corticobulbar tract
- lesions in the spinal cord above L1 where the spinal cord normal ends (adults)
Clinical manifestations:
1) spasticity
2) increased deep tendon reflex* (hyperreflexia)
3) upgoing & fanning toes in the Babinski's reflex
4) hypertonicity of muscles*
5) myoclonus
6) pseudobulbar palsy
* tone & deep tendon reflexes are diminished acutely with upper motor neuron lesions, but increased chronically [2]
Related
upper motor neuron
General
sign/symptom
References
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary 27th ed, Williams &
Wilkins, Baltimore, 1999
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 17,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2015