L04: Sensory Sytem (somatosensory) Flashcards
What is the primary sensory i.e first order neurone also known as
Primary afferent
Where is the cell body of the first order neurone found
In the dorsal root ganglia
Where does the axon of the first order neurone innervate
Receptive field
What happens to the first order neurone when it enter the spinal cord
- Splits into 3 : above, below, same spinal level
- Terminates to 2nd order neurone
Where does the second order neurone take the information to
Thalamus
At the thalamus what happens to the second order neurone
Terminates to give 3rd order neurone
Are sensory neurones excitatory or inhibitory
Excitatory
What is the common neurotransmitter that sensory neurones release
Glutamate
How do we classify axons in the primary afferents
Depending on myelination
What are the axons from the skin
A beta
A delta
C
What happens to the axon as you go from a beta to c fibre
The axon becomes more unmyelinated
What does a beta axons pick up from the skin
Mechanoreceptors
What does a gamma axons pick up from the skin
Pain
Temperature
What does c axon pick up from the skin
Temperature
Pain
Itch
Where does a each axon innervate within its dermatome
Receptive field
What is a dermatome
Area of skin innervated by as single spinal root
What is an adequate stimulus
The right stimulus which depends on the nerve ending
For a signal to be transducer what has to be reached
Threshold
What are the ion channels on the nerve endings called
Transduction channels
What happens to the tranduction channels which open upon suffice to energy stimulus
Open
What happens when the transduction channels open
Positive ions enter to cause depolarisation
What is a a graded receptor potential
The size of stimulus that determines the size of action potential e.g large stimulus= large potential
When is a signal only sent
When they reach a threshold
What is the firing rate of the action potential dependent on
Stimulus strength
What are the 2 types of adapting sensory receptors
1) slow or non adapting receptor
2) fast adapting receptors
What happens in a slow or non adapting receptor
Firing is continuous when stimulus is present
When is a slow or non adapting stimulus important
When maintaining information about a stimulus is valuable e.g amount of stretch or pain
What is the fast adapting receptor
When there is a change in stimulus there is a high rate of firing but firing decreases if the stimulus is maintained
When is the fast adapting receptor important
When the stimulus is no longer important e.g (tactile touch) getting dressed in the morning and not being able to feel you clothes on you later on
What does a slow adapting receptor detect
Strength of stimulus
What does a fast adapting receptor decked
How fast the stimulus is changing
What are the 3 types of sensory receptors found in the skin
Mechanoreceptors
Thermoreceptors
Nociceptors
What does mechanoreceptors detect
Touch
Pressure
Vibration
What does thermoreceptors detect
Hot and cold
What does thermoreceptors not detect
The Temperature
Where is temperature processed
At the brain