Ascending and Descending Pathway Flashcards
Generally what are ascending pathways main modality?
Sensory
Generally what are descending pathways main modality?
Motor
What column is involved with Fine Touch and conscious proprioception?
Dorsal Column / Medial Lemniscus system
What divides the upper and lower fasciculus in the DCML?
T6
Cutaneous receptors below T6 trigger an AP which travels along what?
Fascicule Gracilis
Cutaneous receptors above T6 trigger an AP which travels along what?
Fascicule Cutanea
Fibres from below T6 synapse where?
Nuclei Grascilis - within medulla
Fibres from above T6 synapse where?
Nuclei Cutanea - within medulla
At what level do neurones from the DCML cross over?
Level of the medulla.
Where within the brain do 2nd order neurones synapse?
DCML
Ventral Posterolateral Nuclei - within the thalamus
Where within the brain do 3rd order neurones synapse?
DCML
Primary somatosensory cortex
Post Central Gyrus
3rd order neurones travel within this to reach the primary somatosensory cortex.
DCML
Posterior Internal Capsule
If originating above T6 where do 1st order neurones synapse?
DCML
Nucleus Cutanea - within medulla
What tract deals with Pain Temperature and deep pressure?
Spinothalmic tract / Anterolateral Column
Generally what cutaneous receptors deal with pain?
Nociceptors
Where do 1st order neurones synapse within the spinothalmic tract?
Posterior horn
At what level do neurones of Spinothalmic tract cross over?
At the level it synapses they cross over before climbing anterolaterally.
Where do second order neurones synapse within the spinothalmic tract?
Pass through straight to the ventral Posterolateral Nucleus
Where are motor action potentials generated?
Precentral Gyrus
From where do Upper Motor Neurones originate and where do they synapse?
Originate at precentral gyrus
Synapse within anterior horn.
Within the Midbrain where do UMN pass?
Cerebral Peduncles
Where within the medulla do the UMN pass?
Pyramids of the medulla, located on the anterior portion.
What percentage of UMN cross laterally at the level of the medulla?
85%
If the UMN cross laterally at the level of the medulla what are they referred to as?
Lateral Corticospinal tract
If the UMN don’t cross and descend ipsilateral to side of origin what are the UMN referred to as?
Anterior Corticspinal tract
Where do UMN of the anterior corticospinal tract cross over to synapse?
At level of synapse they cross over to the opposite anterior horn to join the lateral corticospinal tract.
Once synapsed where do both the lateral and anterior corticospinal tracts exit the spinal column?
From the anterior horn.
What is the function of the Tectospinal Tract?
Mediate reflex head and neck movement due to visual stimuli
What is the function of the Reticulospinal tract?
Influences voluntary movement
What is the function of the Vestibulospinal tract?
Excitatory input to antigravity extensor muscles
List some of the key jobs of the dorsal column medial lemniscus.
Stereogensesis - ability to recognise by touch Vibration detection Fine touch - two point discrimination Conscious proprioception Weight discrimination
What helps to sharpen the stimuli perception within the Doral column / medial lemniscus?
Contrast enhancement and lateral inhibition
What is the basis behind contrast enhancement and lateral inhibition?
The most active neurone inhibits adjacent neurones via inhibitory interneurones.
Thus amplifying the action potential of the active neurone.
What does the posterior parietal cortex do?
Receives and integrates inputs from post central gyrus and other sensory areas e.g. visual auditory and subcortical.
Pieces together the jigsaw
Damage to the posterior parietal cortex would result in what?
Neglect syndrome - failure to recognise or use one half of the body.
Difficulties with understand arithmetic and numbers.