6b. Primary Afferents to Thalamus Flashcards
Sensory Axon Types
- Aα and Aβ
- Adelta fibres
- C fibres
Sensory Axon Types
- Aα and Aβ Fibre Characteristics
- Large
- Myelinated
- 40-80m/s conduction velocity
Sensory Axon Types
- Aβ Fibre Sensations
- Touch
- Proprioception
Pain is not elicited by stimulation of the Aβ fibres alone
Sensory Axon Types
- Adelta Fibre Characteristics
- Intermediate
- Myelinated
- 5-30m/s conduction velocity
Sensory Axon Types
- Adelta Fibre Sensations
- Cold
- Stabbing pain
Sensory Axon Types
- C Fibre Characteristics
- Small
- Unmyelinated
- 0.5-2m/s conduction velocity
Sensory Axon Types
- C Fibre Sensations
- Warmth
- Itching
- Burning pain
Sensory Axon
- Mild Anoxia
Affects larger Aβ fibres first, so the following sensations are lost:
- Touch
- Proprioception
Sensory Axon
- Prolonged Anoxia
Affects both Aβ and Adeta fibres, so the following sensations are lost:
- Touch
- Proprioception
- Initial sharp pain
- Cold
Sensory Axon
- Mild Anaesthetic
Affects C fibres, so the following sensations are lost:
- Burning pain
- Itch
- Warmth
Sensory Axon
- Prolonged Anaesthetic
Affects C fibres and Adelta fibres, so the following sensations are lost:
- Burning pain
- Itch
- Warmth
- Cold
- Stabbing pain
Sensory Axon
- Diabetes Mellitus nad Multiple Sclerosis
Myelin sheath of large diameter neurones degenerates resulting in slow conduction or failure of impulse transmission
Sensory Axon
- Anoxia Induced Hyperalgesia
Anoxia can elicit hyperalgesia because of:
- Switch from A-delta to C-fibres bringing burning pain
- Occlusion causes build up of chemicals which sensitise local nerve endings
- Loss of large fibre sensation has opened spinal cord gates so pain messages pass through more easily to consciousness
Gate Theory of Pain
Touch stimuli suppress the transmission of pain messages through the spinal cord gates in the dorsal horn
Sensory Axons
- Anoxia Induced Increase in Latency Period
Anoxia increases latency because:
- Switch from myelinated Adelta fibres to unmyelinated C fibres which have a slower conduction velocity
- Switch from Adelta fibres to C fibres, where Adelta fibres are mechanically activated, while C fibres are activated by the diffusion of chemicals into the fibre endings
- Conduction speed may be decreased by ischaemia
Sensory Axons
- Anoxia Effects
- Loss of various sensations
- Hyperalgesia
- Increase in latency
Somatic Afferents
Pseudo-unipolar cells travel to the spinal cord.
Cell body in the dorsal root ganglion of the spinal nerve