Nociception Flashcards
What are the two pathways that carry sensory information to the primary sensory cortex?
Medial lemniscus
Spinothalamic
What type of sensory information does the medial lemniscal pathway carry?
Touch, proprioception
What type of sensory information does the spinothalamic pathway carry?
Pain, temperature
Which receptors contribute to the medial lemniscus pathway?
Proprioceptors, mechanoreceptors
Which receptors contribute to the spinothalamic pathway?
Nociceptors, thermoreceptors
Where does the primary somatosensory cortex receive inputs from?
Ventral posterior thalamic nuclei
Neurons in S1 of the primary sensory cortex are very responsive to what type of stimuli?
Somatosensory
What do lesions in S1 result in?
Impaired somatic sensations
What is a homunculus?
A depiction of the human body created from a cortical map that represents distinct body areas and their relative importance of sensory information and motor control
What are the five sensory modalities?
Vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch
What are examples of somatic sensation?
Touch, nociception, proprioception, temperature
What is pain?
Unpleasant sensory or emotional experience that is associated with either actual or potential tissue damage. It is subjective
What is nociception?
Processing of information about damaging stimuli
How do nociceptors innervate tissue?
Have free nerve endings in every tissue of body except for brain
What type of stimuli activates nociceptors?
Intense thermal, mechanical, chemical stimuli
