Ascending Neural Pathways Flashcards
State how sensations are divided into categories
Divided into :
- Conscious (Somatic)
- Unconscious
State what conscious sensations are divided into
(Based on locations of receptors)
Exteroceptive (Superficial)
Proprioceptive (Deep)
State what the exteroceptive sensations are divided into
Touch
Pain
Temperature
Touch
Protopathic - crude touch
Epicritic - discriminative touch
Distinction between protopathic and epicritic touch
They are carried in different pathways.
One can be spared and vice versa
State what the proprioceptive sensations are divided into
Joint position
Vibration
Kinaesthesia (sensation originating from muscles)
2-Point Discrimination
Feature of unconscious sensations
Do not reach the cerebral cortex, do not reach the brain.
Therefore, we are not aware of these sensations, however these sensations end up in different parts of the CNS.
Cerebellum deals with it.
State what unconscious sensations are divided into
Proprioceptive (from the joints)
Visceral (from the organs)
Free Nerve Endings
Pain, temperature
Pacinian Corpuscles
Vibration
Rapidly adapting
Encapsulated nerve endings
Pacinian corpuscles
Meissner corpuscles
Merkels discs
Ruffini endings
Meissner corpuscles
Texture
Rapidly adapting
Merkel discs
Sustained pressure
Slowly adapting
Ruffini endings
Drag (Stretch)
Slowly adapting
Describe transmission of somatic senses
Sensations are relayed to the CNS by 3 neurones.
1st order neurones pick up sensations with their peripheral branches from the receptors/free nerve endings.
To the dorsal root ganglion.
The central extensions of the 1st order neurone, bring the sensations to the spinal cord or brainstem, where they synapse with 2nd order neurones.
2nd order neurones cross the midline and ascend to terminate in the thalamus.
3rd order neurone projects from the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex.
Where are sensory nerves found ?
Dorsal Root ganglion
Houses:
- Afferent/ Sensory/ 1st order neurones
Function of the peripheral branch of the 1st order neurone
Carries sensations from the receptor/ free nerve ending.
Function of the central branch of the 1st order neurone
Enters the spinal cord / brainstem via the dorsal root ganglion.
Where is the cell body of the 2nd order neurone found ?
Located in the grey matter of the spinal cord / brainstem on the same side.
Where is the 3rd order neurone found ?
The thalamus
State the locations of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd order neurones
1: Dorsal Root Ganglion
2: Spinal cord or Brainstem
3: Thalamus
What does sensory information travel to the brain via ?
The dorsal column-medial lemniscus system
The anterolateral system
Where do the dorsal column-medial lemniscus system and the anterolateral system come back together ?
Partially at the level of the thalamus
State the sensations that travel together
Conscious proprioceptive sensation
Vibration
Discriminative touch
What is the pathway that carries :
Conscious proprioceptive sensation
Vibration
Discriminative touch
called ?
Dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway
Describe the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway
Carries signals up to the medulla (brainstem) in the dorsal columns of the spinal cord.
Synapse
Cross to opposite side of medulla, become medial lemniscus.
Up the brainstem to thalamus (VPL) via medial lemniscus.
The axons of the 3rd order neurones travel to the cerebral cortex.
Sensory decussation
Axons that cross the midline