Physiology - Somatosensory System Flashcards
Match the following names to their meanings:
Mechanosensation Proprioception Thermosensation Nociception Pruriception
Itch Pain Joint and muscle position Temperature Fine discriminatory touch
Mechanosensation - fine discriminatory touch
Proprioception - joint and muscle position
Thermosensation - temperature
Nociception - pain
Pruiception - itch
What is sensory acuity?
How is it increased?
Fineness of discrimination between stimuli
Decrease in receptive field due to increase in neurons = increased acuity
From dorsal to ventral what order are fibres processed in?
Pain
Touch
Proprioceptors
Where does the first order neuron synapse in the spinothalamic tract?
At the spinal level hence when travelling in the spinal cord it is contralateral side
What is the purpose of lateral inhibition ?
Helps increase stimulus localisation and organisation
What is the name of the areas in the somatosensory cortex that processes different types of sensory input?
Brodmann areas - lesions in different areas lead to different kinds of deficits
