Spinal Cord and Sensory Processing Flashcards
In somatosensory paths, where can decussation occur?
In the spine or brain stem.
What are the three common features that all somatosensory pathways have?
- Decussation
- Thalamic nucleus
- 3 neurons
What does a mechanoreceptor do?
In the periphery, it detects mechanical pressure of distortion. There is:
- Fine touch: free nerve ending, tactile disc, root hair plexus
- Pressure and vibration: tactile corpuscle
- Deep pressure: Ruffini corpuscle
What is the term used for slow adapting receptors?
Tonic (for touch and pressure)
What is the term used for fast adapting receptors?
Phasic (texture and vibrations)
What is proprioception?
Sensing movement and body position. There is conscious and unconscious.
Golgi Tendon Organ is most accurate when…?
Under a large amount of pressure. Monitors tension, pressure and joint moevement.
Nocioceptors (that sense pain) have 2 things.
- Free nerve endings
2. Large receptor fields
Sensory discriminative nocioreceptors have large receptor fields. T/F?
False. They have small receptor fields.
The fastest category of sensory fiber is..?
Type 1a and 1b fibers (myelinated and large diameter).
In the spinocerebellar tract, the second order neurons synapse where?
Clarke’s Nucleus then goes to the cerebellum via the cerebellar peduncles.
In the anterior tract of the spinocerebellar tract, the primary afferent neurons synapse with what?
Spinal border cells. These integrate information from lower limb, descending input and forms the reflex.
What 4 fields does the S1 possess?
3a, 3b, 1, 2
What is SII used for?
Tactile learning and memory
In peripheral nerve injury, which areas are are unaffected?
Those above and below the affected nerve.
What is mononeuropathy?
Single nerve affected (peripheral nerve injury) due to trauma, infection or compression.
What is posterior cord syndrome?
Damage to spinal cord and posterior spinal artery.
Brown-Sequard Syndrome (hemisection).
One side of the cord is cut.
Central cord syndrome.
motor impairment of arms and lesser extent of legs. INVERSE paraplegia.
Agraphesthesia?
Can’t recognise orientation of cutaneous sensation.
Somatosensory Agnosia?
Can’t identify object without visual input.
