S3: Overview of Ascending and Descending Pathways Flashcards
Describe the anatomy of M1 ‘motor strip’ and the S1 ‘sensory strip’ in the brain
The primary motor cortex is located in the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe anterior to the central sulcus and this is M1. It controls voluntary movement of the opposite side of the body. The area in front of the motor strip is the premotor cortex involved in movement, planning and preparation.
Describe the anatomy of the S1 ‘sensory strip’ in the brain
The primary somatosensory cortex is just behind the motor strip in the post central gyrus of the parietal lobe. It receives ascending (sensory) projections for all sensory modalities including light touch, joint position, sense, pain, temperature. It is also referred as S1 and it is concerned with sensation from the opposite side of the body.
Compare the size of S1 and M1
In both the motor cortex and sensory strip the amount of cortex devoted to each body part is in proportion to the precision of motor control (for motor) and tactile sensitivity (for sensory). In both cases the hands, face and tongue have disproportionately large representations.
Describe structure of hemispheric grey matter
There are two types of grey matter: The cerebral cortex of the brain is the outer layer of the cerebrum. Inside the deeper layers are the subcortical nuclei.
What is a ‘nucleus’ in neuroanatomy?
It is a cluster of cell bodies of neurones in the CNS located deep within the cerebral hemispheres and brain stem.
Why is the Thalamus known as the ‘gateway’?
The thalamus is said to be the gateway to the cerebral cortex (i.e. a relay station). For example, if someone stands on your toe the information has to get to your cortex. The information will go up your spinal cord up to your brain stem and to the thalamus. The thalamus would then relay to information to the sensory strip in the appropriate area.
- The thalamus relays all sensory information except olefactory
Describe structure of Thalamus
- We have 2
- Thalami are subdivided into a number of nuclei which possess specialisations allowing them to deal with specific data: there is an anterior, lateral and medial nuclear group.
- Inside the thalamus, the internal medullary lamina is white and’Y’ shaped.
- The two ‘arms’ of Y holds onto the anterior nuclear group. The anterior group is related to memory and emotion.
- The limb of Y gives large lateral nuclear group and smaller mediodorsal nuclear group. The lateral nuclear group gives off many other nucleus’s.
- There are medial and lateral geniculate bodies which relay to primary auditory and visual cortices respectively.
What is the ventral posterior (VP) nucleus?
It is part of the lateral nuclear group in the thalamus. It is the relay that goes up to the sensory strip. it is the relay in the two important sensory pathways: the pain and temperature pathway (spinothalamic) and the vibration and proprioception (dorsal column pathway).
Describe anatomy of subcortical white matter, corpus collosum and internal capsule in coronal section of the brain
There is subcortical white matter and the corpus collosum in the middle linking the two hemispheres. The internal capsule goes down to the middle of the brain with the thalamus medial and basal ganglia lateral.
What is the internal capsule? Describe its function.
The internal capsule contains ascending projections to the cerebral cortex and descending projections that come from the cerebral cortex.
- The sensory pathways also go through the internal capsule going up so the pain and temperature pathway as well as the vibration and proprioception pathway can be seen going up. Ascending pathways must first go up to the thalamus and be relayed up.
- The motor fibres start in the motor cortex and go down through the internal capsule and then get tho the spinal cord by going through the brain stem. The motor fibres do not need to be relayued by the thalamus,
Where in the brain is the internal capsule found?
It is between the basal ganglia and thalamus
Describe structure of the brain stem
The midbrain is at the top, the pons is in the middle and the medulla at the bottom which eventually becomes the spinal cord.
Describe structure of the midbrain
Two big roman pillars called cerebral peduncles. Between them is the interpeduncular fossa.
Describe structure of the midbrain
Two big roman pillars called cerebral peduncles. Between them is the interpeduncular fossa. At the posterior we have the cerebral aquaduct going down and everything dorsal to that is the tectum (meaning roof) and anterior are the peduncles. The main thing in the peduncles is the substantia nigra, the nerve cells here project up to the basal ganglia for movement control. The crus cerebri is where the motor tract descends.
What is the course of the motor cortex to spinal cord?
Motor cortex –> Internal capsule –> Crus cerebri –> Spinal Cord