Ascending & Descending Pathways

Question 1

What information does the Dorsal Column Pathway confer?

Answer 1

2 pt. discrimination, vibration sense, proprioception

Question 2

Romberg’s sign

Answer 2

• dorsal column destroyed (Tabes dorsalis)
• requires vision to stand steady
• positive sign is sensory ataxia
• stomping gait

Question 3

Syringomyelia

Answer 3

Growing lesion (hole) which knocks out Spinothalamic tract, losing pain and temperature from the neck first and progressively down to the feet

Question 4

Brown-Sequard Lesion

Answer 4

• cut one side of spinal cord
• ipsilateral loss of DCP (has not crossed yet)
• contralateral loss of spinal thalamic tract

Question 5

Wallenberg syndrome

Answer 5

• loss of pain and temp on ipsilateral face (spinal trigeminal tract)
• loss of pain and temp on contralateral body (STT)

Question 6

Upper Motor Neuron Damage

Answer 6

• Spasticity
• Hemiplegia
• Hyper reflexivity

Question 7

ALS & Polio

Answer 7

Damage pyramidal cells & lower motor neurons

-one is a virus, one is a syndrome

Question 8

Babinsky sign

Answer 8

• Thumb points up, toes fan out

- indicative of upper motor neuron damage

Question 9

Lower Motor Neuron Damage

Answer 9

• Flaccid paralysis
• Facciculations
• Hypo-reflexivity