6_Ascending Somatosensory Systems Flashcards
Pathways carrying somatosensation for the body, whether they are pain and temperature sensations, or the sensations of vibration, body position in space and discriminative touch, enter the _________________________________________________.
spinal cord in a segmental fashion over the dorsal root of each spinal nerve.
This segmental arrangement (from embryological origin) is reflected in the adult as the:
dermatomal map
In their simplest form, these pathways of somatosensation can be viewed as three neuron pathways, using just three neurons to carry the somatosensation from:
the peripheral receptors to the brain for perception of that somatosensory modality.
Throughout the transfer of information from the periphery to the brain, this segmental arrangement is _____________________________________________________. This arrangement is referred to as a somatotopic organization.
maintained as a topographic map within the pathways and nuclei carrying each sensation.
We see this representation in the homunculus positioned over both:
primary somatosensory cortex and primary motor cortex.
The modalities of conscious proprioception, discriminative touch (two-point discrimination; light touch), position sense (proprioception) and vibratory sensations for the body are carried via the:
dorsal column/medial lemniscus system.
The __________ nerve and related pathways carry these sensations for the face.
trigeminal
What is proprioception?
Modality that provides information concerning movement and position of body parts (in part, joint position in space).
What are two modalities of proprioception?
conscious and unconscious.
Conscious proprioception is:
involved in Kinesthesia, the sense of perception of movement of joints.
Unconscious proprioception is:
proprioception mediated or carried by the spinocerebellar tracts to be discussed later.
The sensations of proprioception and discriminative touch are necessary for _____________.
Stereognosis
What is stereognosis?
the ability to identify an object by feel.
Which modalities are carried by the dorsal column/medial lemniscus system?
proprioception and discriminative touch
The transfer of the sensations of these modalities to the cortex is organized in:
a three-neuron chain (disregarding any interneurons).
Where are primary or first order neuron cell bodies located?
cell body is in the dorsal root ganglia from S5 through C1.
Primary neurons are an example of ______________ neurons.
pseudounipolar
The peripheral processes (________________________________) are heavily myelinated (_____) and are in contact with __________ receptors; muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, pacinian corpuscles, joint receptors, etc.
(axons up to the level of the dorsal root ganglion)
(Ia, Ib, II)
encapsulated
The central processes are _________________ and enter the spinal cord __________ and ascend (without synapsing) in either the fasciculus _______ or fasciculus _________.
heavily myelinated
segmentally
gracilis
cuneatus
The fasciculus gracilis fibers originate from :
S5-T7; lower trunk and the lower limb
The fasciculus cuneatus fibers originate from:
T6-C1; upper trunk and upper limb
The fasciculi gracilis and cuneatus comprise the dorsal or posterior columns. These fibers are added sequentially within the _____________in a topographic fashion from medial (__________) to lateral (____________).
dorsal columns
medial (lower extremities)
lateral (upper extremities).
Where are the secondary or second order neuron cell bodies?
Both nuclei are located at the level of the closed or _________.
cell bodies are located in the nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus, respectively.
caudal medulla
The ascending fibers in the dorsal columns synapse on:
secondary order neurons
The axons of secondary neurons form the __________ fibers that cross the midline to form the ___________________.
internal arcuate
contralateral medial lemniscus
The medial lemniscus is somatotopically organized and projects to the:
ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus (VPL).
Where are tertiary or third order neuron cell bodies located?
cell bodies are in the VPL.
The axons of these neurons project through the:
posterior limb of the internal capsule to the primary somatosensory cortex (Areas 3,1,2; postcentral gyrus in the parietal lobe).
The distribution of the projections to the postcentral gyrus is still organized in a ____________________ (the somatosensory homunculus).
somatotopic organization
Those areas of the body that are _______________ have the ____________ representation within this cortex; i.e., index finger, tongue.
most sensitive
greatest
EXCEPTION – (discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) Proprioception of the lower extremity includes _________ (part of Nucleus Gracilis) and ____________ (spinal cord levels T1-L2).
Nucleus Z
Clarke’s Nucleus
EXCEPTION - ). (discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) This alternative pathway carries some of the modality of conscious proprioception for the:
for the lower extremities.
EXCEPTION - (discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) An extra neuron is added between the dorsal root ganglion and the nucleus Gracilis. Some of the large diameter first order fibers end in the:
ipsilateral dorsal nucleus of Clarke.
EXCEPTION -(discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) A second neuron sends its axon out ipsilaterally to ascend in the ________________, adjacent to the dorsal __________ tract and then synapse in ______.
dorsolateral fasciculus
spinocerebellar
Nucleus Z
EXCEPTION - (discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) The nucleus Z is located at the:____________________________________.
Axons of nucleus Z join the internal arcuate fibers and cross to ascend as part of the contralateral medial lemniscus. The rest of the pathway is the same. Functionally, this system is similar to the others.
rostral end of nucleus Gracilis.
EXCEPTION - (discriminative touch and conscious proprioception) Axons of nucleus Z join the ______________ fibers and cross to ascend as part of the _______________________. The rest of the pathway is the same. Functionally, this system is similar to the others.
internal arcuate
contralateral medial lemniscus
The “alternative pathway” has been proposed as a possible neural pathway by which some conscious perception of proprioception for the lower extremities is:
maintained when the dorsal column system is damaged due to trauma or degenerative illnesses.
The sensory modalities of pain, temperature and non-discriminative touch for the body (trunk and extremities) are carried over a system termed the:
anterolateral system or spinothalamic system.
There are two primary pathways to the anterolateral system (or spinothalamic system):
1) the lateral spinothalamic pathway and
2) the anterior spinothalamic pathway.
These same sensory modalities for the anterior two thirds of the head/face, oral and nasal cavities utilize the ______________ and its central nuclei and tracts.
trigeminal nerve
The sensation of pain and temperature is carried by the ________________________________, it is named for the position of the fiber bundle of axons from the second neuron of the three-neuron chain. The sensation of pain is pervasive and very personal. It is also of tremendous clinical significance.
lateral spinothalamic system.
The lateral spinothalamic system is named for the:
position of the fiber bundle of axons from the second neuron of the three-neuron chain.
True or false: The sensation of pain is simple and very generic.
False: The sensation of pain is pervasive and very personal.
For pain, the First or primary neuron is a _______________ neuron with its cell body in __________________.
pseudounipolar
dorsal root ganglia.