sensory pathways Flashcards
define somatosensory function and types
ability to interpret bodily sensation mechanical, thermal , proprioceptive (movement) and noxious (potentially harmful BUT not always painful)
comparison of sensory nerve axons
axons of sensory nerve have different terminals- thermo and nociceptors have free nerve endings, mechanoceptors have enclosed nerve endings
types of sensory nerves with speed, myelination and diamater
A beta fibres are for unharmful mechanical stimuli- have greatest diameter, speed and are myelinated A delta fibres are for potentially harmful mechanical and themal stimuli- also myelinated C-fibres are for potentially harmful mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli- not myelinated, have smallest diameter and speed
define sensory receptors
transducers that convert energy into action potentials
thermoreceptors- fibres involved and comparison
A delta and C fibres- use free nerve endings both fibres detect coldness, only C fibres detect heat
thermoreceptors- sensitivity to temp and ion channels
minute changes in temp. can be detected, but sensitivity to temp is different in different parts of the body, depending on the ion channels present- i on channels are called transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels, activated by heat (TRPV1-4, channel that detects capsaicin as well) or by coldness (TRPM9/A1)
mechanoreceptors- comparison (1 similarity and types)
all A beta meissners corpuscle receptors detect low frequency vibraion and very fine touch merkel cells detect light touch eg brush pacinian corpuscles detect deep pressure, high frequency vibration or tickling ruffini endings detect stretch and continuous pressure
nociceptors- commonality and types of fibres for diff types of pain
they are free endings sharp pain (eg pin) and excessive coldness detected by A delta fibres dull aching pain and excessive heat detected by C fibres
define stimulus threshold
point of intensity where person can detect the stimulus half of the time- if stimulus given 4 times, person detected it twice
stimulus intensity- what does it depend on
depends of stimulus strength and duration, which affects amount of NT released
adaptation via tonic receptors+ example
these detect continuous stimulus strength- if you sat on chair, they initially send burst of impulses to brain, and then continue to do so, keeping brain constantly informed they adapt slowly eg merkel cells
adaptation via phasic receptors + example
not like tonic receptors- detects CHANGE in stimulus strength, sending impulses when change taking place eg pacinian recepto transmit impulse during sudden pressure, then another once pressure gone
define receptive field compare fields in different areas
area of skin where stimulus activates a SINGLE sensory neurone arm has small receptive fields to detect fine detail fingers have even smaller receptive fields, so many mechanoreceptors in a small area back has large receptive fields ie less precise detection of stimulus as mechanoreceptors spread out
explain two point discrimination, what it depends on and how its carried out
minimum distance at which two points are perceived by body as separate- clinically important to assess dorsal column depends on receptive field- in hands distance should be much smaller two ends of a paper clip are placed on an area of skin- if they are placed on different fields, 2 points of touch are perceived, if they re placed in one field (eg back), 1 point of touch perceived
cell bodies in body and and face and pathway
cell bodies are either in dorsal root ganglia (for body) or trigeminal ganglia (for face) info from lower limb goes to lumbar region via primary neurone and goes up via GRACILE FASCICULUS, info from upper limb goes to cervical region and goes up to medulla via CUNEATE FASCICULUS info then goes to gracile and cuneate nuclei, secondary neurone forms and crosses over at medulla to form medial leminiscus, which goes up to thalamus, which then goes to somatosensory cortex via tertiary neurone
use of quantitative sensory testing and anterior spinal cord lesion DIAGRAM
tests both ascending pathways if anterior spinal artery block, anterior part is damaged (red part anterior, as looking at cord from above in pic), so pain and temp loss occurs below level of lesion (at higher levels, fibres can still cross) dorsal column still intact ie light touch (dorsal in posterior part)
hyperalgesia and allodynia DIAGRAM
allodynia- pain from a stimulus that normally is not painful hyperalgesia- even more pain from a stimulus that normally provokes pain, either primary (at site) or secondary (near site) graph shifts left- allodynia is shaded red (normally causes no pain)
