4: Physiology - Primary sensory neurons and their modalitiies 2 Flashcards

1
Q

Starting at slide 10:

Where is the primary somatosensory area of the brain?

A

Post-central gyrus

Parietal lobe, just after the central sulcus

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2
Q

Which body parts are found at the medial and lateral ends of the sensory strip?

A

Medially - peripheries i.e upper and lower limbs

Laterally - face, pharynx, abdominal organs

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3
Q

What is the sensory homunculus?

A

Visual representation of how much cortex is devoted to each body part’s sensation

i.e massive hands big lips

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4
Q

How many layers of cells does the somatosensory area have?

A

Six

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5
Q

In the somatosensory area, neurons corresponding to different parts of the body are arranged into what?

A

Columns

e.g columns for each finger

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6
Q

What happens to the columns of somatosensory cortex corresponding to an area of the body if that area of the body is amputated?

A

They process info from the adjacent areas of the body instead

i.e other sensory areas take over

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7
Q

What happens to the contralateral somatosensory cortex if a part of the body receives more sensory input?

A

It enlarges

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8
Q

Sensory info from one side of the body is processed on the (ipsilateral / contralateral) side of the brain.

A

contralateral

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9
Q

Which somatosensory cortex integrates sensory, visual and auditory information?

A

S2

just posterior to S1

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10
Q

Where is the S2 somatosensory cortex?

What is its function?

A

Posterior parietal cortex

Integrates information from S1 so you know what an object is without having to analyse it

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11
Q

What are the two main sensory pathways we need to know about?

A

Dorsal column / medial lemniscus pathway

Spinothalamic tract

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12
Q

Where do sensory nerve fibres decussate (cross over) in the DC/ML pathway?

A

Pyramids of the medulla

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13
Q

Where do sensory nerve fibres decussate in the spinothalamic tract?

A

Immediately at the spinal cord level they entered at

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14
Q

What structures are connected by the

a) 1st

b) 2nd

c) 3rd order neurons of the DC/ML pathway?

A

a) Spinal cord to medulla

b) Medulla to thalamus

c) Thalamus to post-central gyrus

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15
Q

What structures are connected by the

a) 1st

b) 2nd

c) 3rd-order neurons of the spinothalamic tract?

A

a) Sensory neuron to spinal cord

b) Spinal cord to thalamus

c) Thalamus to post-central gyrus

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16
Q

What is the medial tract of the DC/ML pathway called?

A

Fasciculus gracilis

17
Q

What is the lateral tract of the DC/ML pathway called?

A

Fasciculus cuneatus

18
Q

The fasciculus cuneatus runs in the ___ aspect of the dorsal column.

The fasciculus gracilis runs in the ___ aspect of the dorsal column.

A

fasciculus cuneatus - lateral dorsal column

fasciculus gracilis - medial dorsal column

19
Q

Sensory fibres from which parts of the body run in the fasciculus cuneatus?

A

Upper trunk

Arms

20
Q

Sensory fibres from which parts of the body run in the fasciculus gracilis?

A

Lower trunk

Legs

21
Q

Sensory information from which spinal levels is carried in the fasciculus gracilis?

A

T6 and below

22
Q

Sensory information from which spinal levels is carried in the fasciulus cuneatus?

A

T5 and above

23
Q

The DC/ML pathway is the main route by which sensory fibres reach the brain.

Which cranial nerve is the exception and which part of the body does it supply?

A

CN V

Anterior head

24
Q

Where do fibres synapse at the end of the

a) fasciculus cuneatus

b) fasciculus gracilis?

A

a) Cuneate nucleus

b) Gracile nucleus

25
Where do fibres from the **DC/ML pathway** decussate?
**Medulla**
26
Sensory information regarding fine touch, proprioception and vibration from the **right side** of the body is processed on the **left side** of the brain. Why?
**100% ​decussation at medulla**
27
After decussating at the medulla, how do DC/ML fibres reach the thalamus?
**Medial lemniscus** hence the name
28
How do **sensory fibres** from the DC/ML pathway travel from the **thalamus** to the **primary somatosensory area****?**
**Internal capsule**
29
Which **senses** are provided by the **DC/ML pathway**?
**Fine touch** **Vibration** **Proprioception**
30
What is **stereognosis**?
**Ability to recognise an object using fine touch**
31
What is **lateral inhibition**? Which **cells** are involved?
**The ability for an activated neuron to inhibit the neurons around it** **Interneurons** (release inhibitory neurotransmitters)
32
What is the term used to describe the ability of activated neurons to inhibit the neurons around them?
**Lateral inhibition**
33
What is the point of **lateral inhibition**?
**Supposedly sharpens senses by turning off irrelevant signals around the activated sensory neuron**
34
Which **cranial nerve** is responsible for somatic sensory innervation of the face?
**CN V** ## Footnote **Trigeminal nerve and its three divisions**
35
Where do **somatic** **sensory fibres** from the **trigeminal nerve** synapse first?
**Trigeminal ganglia**