Neurology and Anatomy

Question 1

Function of the Dorsal Horn (posterior)

Answer 1

Receive somatosensory information from the rest of the body, and transmits the nerve impulses to the brain via the ascending pathways

Question 2

Function of the Lateral Horn/Intermediate column

Answer 2

Contains neurons that innervate the pelvic and visceral organs

Question 3

Function of the Ventral Horn (anterior)

Answer 3

Contains motor neurons that innervate the skeletal muscles

Question 4

Clinical Relevance to the Spinal Cord

Answer 4

Referred Pain

Question 5

Referred Pain

Answer 5

When visceral pain (eg. pain arising from the heart muscle) is felt as cutaneous pain (eg. in the left arm)

Question 6

Ascending tract (the pathways in which somatosensory information is transmitted from the peripheral nerves to the cerebral cortex) is divided into 2 tracts

Answer 6

1. Conscious Tracts - comprised of the dorsal column medial lemniscal (DCML) pathway and the anterolateral system
2. Unconscious Tracts - comprised of the spinal cerebellar tracts

Question 7

Function of the Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscal (DCML) pathway

Answer 7

Carries the sensory modalities of fine touch (tactile sensation), vibration and propioception (perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body)

Question 8

3 groups of neurons that are involved in the DCML pathway

Answer 8

First Order Neurons - carry sensory information regarding touch, propioception, vibration from the peripheral nerves to the medulla oblongata

Second Order Neurons -
Third Order Neurons -

Question 9

First order neuron signals from the upper limb

Answer 9

Travels in the fasciculus cuneatus (lateral part of the dorsel horn), synapses in the nucleus cuneatus of the medulla oblongata

Question 10

First order neuron signals from the lower limb

Answer 10

Travels in the fasciculus gracillis (medial part of the dorsel horn), synapses in the nucleus gracillis of the medulla oblongata