Ascending and Descending Pathways Flashcards

1
Q

The right somatosensory cortex is responsible for sensation on which side of the body?

A

Left

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2
Q

The left somatosensory cortex is responsible for sensation on which side of the body?

A

Right

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3
Q

Sensory information from the peripheries reaches the somatosensory cortex how?

A

Travelling up the spinal cord

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4
Q

Sensation from which areas of the body do not reach the somatosensory cortex by travelling up the spinal cord?

A

Face and scalp

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5
Q

White matter occupies a smaller proportion of the spinal cord as you travel in which direction?

A

Downwards (the further down the spinal cord, the less white matter)

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6
Q

Is the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system ascending or descending?

A

Ascending

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7
Q

What is the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system responsible for?

A

Fine touch, conscious proprioception and vibration

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8
Q

In the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system, where do the fibres cross over?

A

The medulla

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9
Q

In which direction do sensory pathways in the body travel?

A

Ascending

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10
Q

Ascending and descending pathways in the spinal cord are found within which matter?

A

White matter

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11
Q

What two areas of spinal cord make up the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system?

A

Fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus

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12
Q

Which is more medial in the spinal cord- the fasciculus gracilis or fasciculus cunneatus?

A

Fasciculus gracilis

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13
Q

Signals from where travel within the fasciculus gracilis (within the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system)?

A

Lower limb

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14
Q

Signals from where travel within the fasciculus cuneatus (within the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system)?

A

Upper limb

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15
Q

The anterior aspect of the spinothalamic tract is responsible for what sensation?

A

Crude touch and pressure

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16
Q

The lateral aspect of the spinothalamic tract is responsible for what sensation?

A

Pain and temperature

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17
Q

In the spinothalamic tract, where do the fibres cross over?

A

In the spinal cord

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18
Q

Is the spinothalamic tract ascending or descending?

A

Ascending

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19
Q

The right primary somatomotor cortex is responsible for muscles on which side of the body?

A

Left

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20
Q

The left primary somatomotor cortex is responsible for muscles on which side of the body?

A

Right

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21
Q

Are motor pathways in the CNS ascending or descending?

A

Descending

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22
Q

Is the corticospinal tract ascending or descending?

A

Descending

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23
Q

What can the corticospinal tract also be known as?

A

The pyramidal tract

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24
Q

There are 2 subsets of corticospinal tract. Fibres which have crossed over form which one?

A

Lateral

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25
Q

There are 2 subsets of corticospinal tract. Fibres which have not crossed over form which one?

A

Ventral

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26
Q

Where do pyramidal tracts originate?

A

Cerebral cortex

27
Q

What are all types of pyramidal tract responsible for?

A

Voluntary control of the muscles of the face and body

28
Q

What is the corticospinal tract responsible for?

A

Fine, precise movement (particularly of distal limb muscles)

29
Q

Within descending pathways, are there synapses?

A

No

30
Q

At the termination of a descending pathway, the neurones synapse to become what?

A

A lower motor neurone

31
Q

Where do most fibres in the corticospinal pathway cross over to form the lateral CST?

A

Medulla

32
Q

Where do some fibres in the corticospinal pathway cross over to form the ventral CST?

A

Spinal cord

33
Q

A CVA of the internal capsule can result in a lack of descending control of the CST which results in what clinical picture?

A

Spastic paralysis with hyeprflexion of the upper limbs

34
Q

Where do extrapyramidal descending tracts originate?

A

Brainstem

35
Q

What are all types of extrapyramidal tract responsible for?

A

Involuntary and autonomic control of all musculature

36
Q

The tectospinal tract involves input mostly to where?

A

Cervical segments of the spinal cord

37
Q

The following describes the function of which pathway: “Though to mediate reflex head and neck movement due to visual stimuli”

A

Tectospinal tract

38
Q

In the reticulospinal tract, fibres originating where facilitate extensor muscles and inhibit flexor muscles?

A

Pons

39
Q

In the reticulospinal tract, fibres originating where facilitate flexor muscles and inhibit extensor muscles?

A

Medulla

40
Q

The following describes the function of which pathway: “Controls balance and posture by innervating anti-gravity muscles via lower motor neurones”

A

Vestibulospinal tract

41
Q

Does the vesticulospinal tract cross over?

A

No

42
Q

Lesions of the brainstem at the level of the midbrain can result in a lack of descending control of the vestibulospinal tract. What clinical picture does this result in?

A

Domination of extensor muscles and hyperextended spastic paralysis

43
Q

Where do the first synapses take place in the DCML system?

A

In the medulla, in the nucleus gracilis/cuneatus

44
Q

Where do the second synapses take place in the DCML system?

A

The thalamus

45
Q

Once the fibres of the DCML pathway have entered the spinal cord, where do they travel to?

A

The nucleus gracilis/cuneatus of the medulla

46
Q

Once the fibres from the DCML pathway have synapsed at the medulla, where do they travel to?

A

The thalamus

47
Q

Where do the fibres of the DCML pathway go after the 3rd order neurones exit the thalamus?

A

They travel via the internal capsule to the ipsilateral somatosensory cortex

48
Q

What happens after fibres from the periphery enter the spinothalamic tract?

A

They ascend 1 or 2 spinal levels and then synapse at the tip of the dorsal horn

49
Q

After passing up the spinal cord, where is the next synapse in the spinothalamic tract?

A

Thalamus

50
Q

Where do the fibres of the spinothalamic tract go after the 3rd order neurones exit the thalamus?

A

They travel via the internal capsule to the ipsilateral somatosensory cortex

51
Q

Fibres of the vestibulo-spinal tract originate where?

A

Vestibular nucleus in the pons

52
Q

Where does the tectospinal tract originate?

A

The superior colliculus in the midbrain

53
Q

Where does the reticulospinal tract originate?

A

The reticular formations in the pons and medulla

54
Q

What is the function of the pontine reticulospinal tract?

A

Facilitate voluntary/reflex responses and increase tone

55
Q

What is the function of the medullary reticulospinal tract?

A

Inhibit voluntary/reflex responses and decrease tone

56
Q

Where does the rubrospinal tract originate?

A

Red nucleus in the midbrain

57
Q

What is the function of the rubrospinal tract?

A

Excites flexor muscles and inhibits extensor muscles of the upper body

58
Q

Fibres in the lateral corticospinal tract mainly supply which muscles?

A

Distal muscles

59
Q

Fibres in the anterior/ventral corticospinal tract mainly supply which muscles?

A

Axial/proximal muscles

60
Q

What are the two pyramidal tracts known as?

A

Corticospinal and corticobulbar

61
Q

What is the function of the corticobulbar tract?

A

Contains the upper motor neurone of cranial nerves to provide innervation of the head, face and neck

62
Q

The UMNs found in the corticobulbar tract innervate the cranial nerves bilaterally - what are the exceptions to this?

A

The hypoglossal nuclei and the lower facial nuclei - these are only innervated contralaterally

63
Q

What is the clinical picture if there is an upper motor neurone lesion of the facial nerve? What is this known as?

A

Paralysis of the lower half of the contralateral side of the face, with the forehead muscles unaffected. This is known as central facial palsy

64
Q

What is the clinical picture if there is a lower motor neurone lesion of the facial nerve? What is this known as?

A

Paralysis of the ipsilateral half of the face including the forehead. This is known as Bell’s palsy