Somatosensory Pathways and Motor Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Where is somatic (from the body) sensation carried?

A

by peripheral nerve to spinal cord

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2
Q

Where is information passed in somatosensory pathways?

A

information is passed rostrally (towards heart) through cord and brainstem → thalamus → cerebral cortex

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3
Q

What is the simple rule of the somatosensory pathways?

A

there is chain of three neurons between peripheral sensory receptor and cortex

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4
Q

What is the 1st order neuron?

A
  • has sensory receptor at its peripheral extremity (extremity of neuron)
  • cell body is in dorsal root ganglion
  • central branch enters CNS where it synapses
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5
Q

What does the 2nd order neuron do?

A
  • crosses to opposite side

- ascends to thalamus – where it synapses with 3rd order neuron

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6
Q

What is the 3rd order neuron?

A
  • thalamocortical

- projects to somatosensory cortex in parietal lobe

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7
Q

What are the ascending tracts of the spinal cord? (5)

A
  • dorsal columns (fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus)
  • dorsal spinocerebellar
  • ventral spinocerebellar
  • lateral spinothalamic
  • ventral spinothalamic
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8
Q

Fasciculus Gracilis

  • function
A

touch, proprioception

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9
Q

Fasciculus Cuneatus

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • conscious muscle sense concerned with awareness of body position
  • crossed touch, pressure, vibration
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10
Q

Dorsal Spinocerebellar

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • unconscious muscle sense – important in control of muscle tone and posture

uncrossed

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11
Q

Ventral Spinocerebellar

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • unconscious muscle sense

- crossed

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12
Q

lateral spinothalamic

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • pain and temperature

- crossed

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13
Q

ventral spinothalamic

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • touch

- crossed

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14
Q

What are the descending tracts? (4)

A
  • lateral corticospinal
  • rubrospinal
  • ventral corticospinal
  • vestibulospinal
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15
Q

lateral corticospinal

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • voluntary control of skeletal muscles

- crossed

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16
Q

rubrospinal

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • involuntary control of skeletal muscle concerned with muscle tone and posture
  • crossed
17
Q

ventral corticospinal

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • voluntary control of skeletal muscles
  • uncrossed down spinal cord
  • crosses at level of termination in spinal cord
18
Q

vestibulospinal

  • function
  • crossed or uncrossed
A
  • involuntary control of muscle tone to maintain balance and equilibrium
  • uncrossed
19
Q

Modalities in spinal cord….

A
  • touch and proprioception from same side

- pain and temperature from opposite side

20
Q

Touch and Proprioception

A
  1. carried from periphery in groups I and II (myelinated and fast) fibres
  2. reach cord, then ascend in white matter:
    - on same side
    - without synapsing
    - via dorsal columns
  3. in caudal medulla, synapse with 2nd order neuron in dorsal column nuclei
  4. axon of 2nd order neuron…
    - crosses immediately
    - ascends through medulla medially – called medial lemniscus
21
Q

Pain and Temperature

A
  1. carried in groups III and IV (slow) fibres
  2. sharp vs. dull pain – in cord, 1st order axons synapse in dorsal horn with 2nd order neurons
  3. 2nd order axon crosses in cord at same level, and ascends as spinothalamic tract (travels from spinal cord to thalamus)
    - ventrolateral white matter on opposite side
22
Q

Pain and Temperature + Touch and Proprioception

A

see notes

23
Q

corticospinal system

A
  • voluntary movement
  • one neuron from cerebral cortex to spinal cord
  • cell bodies situated in precentral gyrus of frontal lobe (primary motor cortex)
  • situated immediately anterior to sensory cortex
  • motor homunculus in cortex: finer movement areas = larger cortical representation
24
Q

Corticospinal Tract

A

see notes

internal capsule
cerebral peduncles
pons
medulla
lateral column of white matter – lateral corticospinal tract
leave tract
ventral horn of grey matter
synapse with motor neurons
25
Q

corticobulbar system

A
  • controls muscles of face (bulbar refers to brainstem)
  • corticobulbar fibres are identical to corticospinal fibres, except it terminates on cranial nerve (motor) nuclei in brainstem
  • voluntary control
26
Q

reticulospinal

A
  • reticular formation forms central core of grey matter and runs whole length of brainstem
  • gives rise to reticulospinal fibres – projects bilaterally (to both sides) down spinal cord
  • influence 𝛾-motor neurons
  • mingled with other systems in ventral columns of spinal cord
27
Q

vestibulospinal

A
  • from vestibular nuclei
  • medial vestibulospinal tract
  • lateral vestibulospinal tract
  • projections are ipsilateral (same side) and unilateral (they do not branch)
  • they mainly excite extensor motor neurons
28
Q

Where is the medial vestibulospinal tract?

A
  • from medial vestibular nucleus

- terminates on motor neurons supplying neck and trunk muscles

29
Q

Where is the lateral vestibulospinal tract?

A
  • arises from lateral vestibular nucleus

- supplies motor neurons of limb muscles

30
Q

What is 𝛼-𝛾 coactivation?

A

corticospinal system activates both alpha (𝛼) and gamma (𝛾) motor neurons simultaneously

  • ensures that sensitivity of spindle is maintained, regardless of length of extrafusal fibres
  • corticospinal and reticulospinal tracts receive same excitatory connections from brain to have full range of motion and control