Somatosensory Pathways and Motor Systems Flashcards
Where is somatic (from the body) sensation carried?
by peripheral nerve to spinal cord
Where is information passed in somatosensory pathways?
information is passed rostrally (towards heart) through cord and brainstem → thalamus → cerebral cortex
What is the simple rule of the somatosensory pathways?
there is chain of three neurons between peripheral sensory receptor and cortex
What is the 1st order neuron?
- has sensory receptor at its peripheral extremity (extremity of neuron)
- cell body is in dorsal root ganglion
- central branch enters CNS where it synapses
What does the 2nd order neuron do?
- crosses to opposite side
- ascends to thalamus – where it synapses with 3rd order neuron
What is the 3rd order neuron?
- thalamocortical
- projects to somatosensory cortex in parietal lobe
What are the ascending tracts of the spinal cord? (5)
- dorsal columns (fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus)
- dorsal spinocerebellar
- ventral spinocerebellar
- lateral spinothalamic
- ventral spinothalamic
Fasciculus Gracilis
- function
touch, proprioception
Fasciculus Cuneatus
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- conscious muscle sense concerned with awareness of body position
- crossed touch, pressure, vibration
Dorsal Spinocerebellar
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- unconscious muscle sense – important in control of muscle tone and posture
uncrossed
Ventral Spinocerebellar
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- unconscious muscle sense
- crossed
lateral spinothalamic
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- pain and temperature
- crossed
ventral spinothalamic
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- touch
- crossed
What are the descending tracts? (4)
- lateral corticospinal
- rubrospinal
- ventral corticospinal
- vestibulospinal
lateral corticospinal
- function
- crossed or uncrossed
- voluntary control of skeletal muscles
- crossed