Ascending and Descending Tracts Flashcards
Define tract
A bundle of axons with the same origin and termination
What are the two types of pathways that bring afferent sensory info to the brain
Conscious Relay Pathways
Divergent Pathways
What is a conscious relay pathway
An afferent pathway that brings info about location and type of stimulus to the cerebral cortex
Discriminative touch & proprioception IPSI
Discrimitive pain & temp CL
What is a divergent pathway
An afferent sensory pathway that transmits sensory info to many locations in the BS and cortex - both conscious and unconscious
Ie - aching pain
What are unconscious relay pathways
Bring afferent unconscious proprioception and other movement related information to the cerebellum
What does the DCML transmit?
Discriminative
Proprioception
Vibration
Light moving touch
What do the anterolateral tracts transmit?
Course/crude touch Pain Temperature Sharp/dull Tickle and itch Sexual sensations
Receptors & pathway:
Discriminative touch
PCML
A delta, myelinated
Receptors & pathway:
Proprioception
PCML
Ia, Ib, II
Receptors & pathway:
Vibration
DCML
Pacinian corpuscles, Ia, Ib, II
Receptors & pathway:
Light moving tough
PCML
superficial mechanoreceptors
Receptors & pathway:
Course/crude touch
Anterolateral
C-fiber, unmyelinated
Receptors & pathway:
Pain
Anterolateral
Fast - A delta
Slow - C-fiber
Receptors & pathway:
Temperature
Anterolateral
Free nerve endings
myelinated and unmyelinated axons
Receptors & pathway:
Sharp/dull
Anterolateral
Receptors & pathway:
Tickle and itch
Superficial mechanoreceptors
Receptors & pathway:
Sexual sensations
Superficial mechanoreceptors
Lateral to medial organization of the lateral spinothalamic tract
Sacral
Lumbar
Thoracic
Cervical
Lateral to medial organization of the Lateral corticospinal tract
Sacral
Lumbar
Thoracic
Cervical
Lateral to medial organization of the DCML/PCML
Cuneate fasciculus (Cervical) Gracile fasciculus (Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral)
What tracts comprise the ALS system?
Spinothalamic tract
Spinoreticular tract
Spinomesencephalic tract
PCML/DCML pathway - 1st order neurons
1st order neurons: (Receptors Ia phasic & tonics, Ibs) ascend IPSI and terminate at the nucleus gracile and cuneate of the lower medulla