Ascending Sensory Pathways I + II Flashcards
What is Somaesthetic pathways?
Involves perception of bodily senses – pain,
temperature, touch and position
What is Proprioception? What structures are invovled?
the positon of where you are in space
Involves the DCP
Golgi tendons or muscle spindles in the muscles that detect the positon of the muscles and what they are doing without you having to see
What does Somaesthetic pathways carry?
Carry information of different types or modalities from:
Skin, mucus membranes, joints and muscles to the brain
What detects each modality involved in Somaesthetic pathways?
Each modality is detected by specific sensory receptors/specialised nerve endings
What are the two Somaesthetic pathways?
Spinothalamic Pathway
Dorsal column pathway
Which somaesthetic modality is essential for survival?
Somaesthetic pathways
Which somaesthetic modality increases detail?
dorsal column pathway
What type of reception modality does Spinothalamic Pathway
- Pain, temperature, some touch and pressure
What type of reception modality does Dorsal Column Pathway carry?
Discriminative touch: 2-point discrimination and vibration
Proprioception
What type of fibers are involved in Spinothalamic Pathway? Is the conduction fast or slow?
Carried via thin, poorly mylinated or
unmylinated fibres
Conduction relatively slow
What type of fibers are involved in Dorsal column pathway? Is the conduction fast or slow?
Carried via large diameter, heavily mylinated fibres
Fast conduction
How many neurones are invovled in the general sensory pathway?
3
When talking about sensory sensation of the body where specifically in the thalamus is the neurone going to?
VPL of the thalamus
What part of the brain is involved in general sensation?
Post central gyrus
What is the role of each of the 3 neurones in the general sensory pathway?
1st neurone: Is a Pseudounipolar that synpase on the same side of the spinal cord that is entered in.
2nd neurone: Axon crosses midline –> Ascends to ventral posterior thalamus
3rd neurone: Axon projects to post central
Gyrus (parietal lobe)
What is a Pseudounipolar?
. A neuron with a single stalk, that splits to give of two process –> one branch runs to he periphery and the other to the spinal cord.
What is a dorsal root ganglion?
Collection of cell bodies of the dorsal root neurones.
Specifically Pseudounipolar
Afferent nerves as they carry information towards the brain
How many neurones does the general sensory pathway compromise and where do these neuroens reside and move?
1)Comprise 3 neurons: first order, second order and third order
2)Cell bodies of 1st order neurons reside in dorsal root ganglia (PNS)
3)Cell bodies of 2nd order neurons reside in CNS ipsilateral grey matter
4)Axons of 2nd order neurons cross midline and ascend to thalamus
5)Cell bodies of 3rd order neurons reside in thalamus and axons project to somato-
sensory cortex
.
What is the blood supply of the medial surface of the post central gyrus?
anterior cerebral artery
What is the blood supply of the lateral surface of the post central gyrus?
Medial cerebral artery
How can imput from the 1st to 2nd and then 3rd neuroens be modified?
It is not simple relay. Can be modified by other inputs: eg. Convergence/divergence or descending pathways.
Can make the message more widespread or specific
Describe the crossing over of the Spinothalamic
tract and Dorsal column.
The spinothalamic tract crossess over the midline as soon as it enters the spinal tract
The dorsal column does not cross the midline at the level it enters the cord. It will ascend right up to the medulla then it will cross over
Describe the route of the Spinothalamic
tract?
1) 1st neurone originates from the DRG and ascends towards the spinal cord
2) The 1st neurone fibre ascends 1-2 segments then
contacts 2 neurone in dorsal grey horn
3) The 2nd neurone crosses midline in ventral white commisure
4) Then the 2 neurone fibres ascend in Spinothalamic tract to thalamus
What is the position where the 2nd neurone in spinothalamic tract crosses over the midline?
anterior ventral to the ventral white commissure
Close association between VWC and central canal
What structures in the CNS are somatotopically tract?
Medulla, thalamus and spinal cord
Once the spinothalamic tract has passed the medula what does it become?
Spinal lemniscus
What part of the medulla does the spinothalamic tract go to?
Lateral lemniscus
What is the route of the dosral column pathway at the level of the spinal cord?
1) the 1st neurone is at the dorsal root ganglion and then goes into the same side of the spinal cord
2) Synapse and the second neurone ascend in one of
ipsilateral dorsal columns
There is no crossing over
What is the distribution of the gracile and cuneate fasciles?
Gracile fascicle runs the whole length of the spinal cord –> information from the legs and lower part of the body
Cuneate fascicle runs above T6 only –> information from the upper body
What within the gracile and cuenate tubercles?
Gracile and Cuneate nucleus respectively where 1st neurone synpases
What type of sensation is involved in dorsal column pathway?
discriminative touch and
proprioception (plus some simple touch and pressure)
What type of sensation is involved in Spinothalamic pathway?
Pain, temperature, touch and pressure