Ascending neural pathways

Question 1

what does fasciculus grascilis carry

Answer 1

information from lower body extremities

Question 2

what does fasciculus cuneatus carry

Answer 2

upper body extremeties

Question 3

what do the dorsal and ventral spinocerebellar tracts carry

Answer 3

proprioceptive information from muscle spindles and golgi organs

Question 4

what do the spinal thalamic tracts carry

Answer 4

pain (anterolateral system)

Question 5

what does a large area in the sensory homunculus represent

Answer 5

areas fed by nerves with small receptive fields

Question 6

what are the three principle ascending tracts in the spinal cord

Answer 6

dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway

spinothalamic pathway

spinocerrebellar

Question 7

what could cause a gait ataxia

Answer 7

dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway pathology

proprioception, touch pressure and vibration deprived

Question 8

what is sensory ataxia

Answer 8

loss of coordination caused by a loss of sensory input

patient may be able to compensate using vision

Question 9

a patient presents with paraesthesia in the fingers and toes. what is a possible cause

Answer 9

dorsal column disease

due to ectopic discharge in dorsal column axons

Question 10

what are you looking for when testing the ability to feel a tuning fork vibration or position of fingers and toes

Answer 10

dorsal column function

Question 11

what column carries fine touch

Answer 11

dorsal column

Question 12

what pathway carries crude or non discriminating touch

Answer 12

spino thalamic

Question 13

which pathway contains fibres that are quick to cross

Answer 13

spino thalamic

Question 14

what fibres carry dull pain and itch

Answer 14

C

Question 15

what pathway contains neurons that synapse in the dorsal horn

Answer 15

spinothalamic

Question 16

what fibres are found in the lateral spinothalamic route

Answer 16

mix of Ad and C fibres

Question 17

what fibres are carried in the ventral spinothalamic anterior route

Answer 17

only C fibres

Question 18

what can lateral spinothalamic tract lesions cause

Answer 18

decreased perception of pain and temp on the contralateral side

also shooting/electrical type pain

Question 19

what is the purpose of the spinocerrebellar pathways

Answer 19

carry information from muscle spindles and golgi organs and touch receptors to the cerrebelum for control of posture and coordination of movement

Question 20

how many neurons are found in the spinocerrebellar tract

Answer 20

just first and second order

located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and teminate in the vermis of the cerrebelum

Question 21

which spinocerrebellar neurons ascend ipsilaterally and enter the cerebellum via the inferior peduncle

Answer 21

dorsal tract neurons

Question 22

what is Friedreichs ataxia

Answer 22

spinocerrebellar tract becomes increasingly ineffective

frataxin repeat gene

reeling gait
intention tremour
uncoordinated arm and leg movement