Spinal Cord Pathways

Question 1

pain, temperature, itching, tickling, deep pressure and crude touch travel together in what pathway?

Answer 1

spinothalamic

Question 2

what is meant by “upper” motor neuron?

Answer 2

having to do with the CNS

Question 3

where is the alpha motor neuron located?

Answer 3

ventral gray matter (ventral root)

Question 4

what motor neuron is associated with voluntary pathway?

Answer 4

alpha

Question 5

what is the motor humonculous?

Answer 5

places where voluntary motion comes from in the cerebral cortex

Question 6

what are extrapyramidal symptoms?

Answer 6

older terminology for basal ganglia

Question 7

what is the internal capsule?

Answer 7

motor white matter pathway

Question 8

what is the decussation of pyramid?

Answer 8

where neuronal pathways cross in the medulla

Question 9

what does lateral corticospinal pathway control?

Answer 9

distal, fine motor function

Question 10

what does anterior corticospinal pathway control?

Answer 10

proximal motor function of extremities

Question 11

what does it mean to decussate?

Answer 11

cross over

Question 12

what is the pathway in the basal ganglia?

Answer 12

input into caudate and putamen

output through globus pallidus and substantia nigra

Question 13

what is dysmetria

Answer 13

inability to coordinate movement

Question 14

what senses travel along the dorsal pathway?

Answer 14

proprioception
vibration
light pressure
discriminative touch
two-point discrimination

Question 15

how many neurons does sensory pathway have?

Answer 15

3

Question 16

where does spinothalamic cross?

Answer 16

at level of spinal column

2nd order neuron

Question 17

what does VPL mean?

Answer 17

ventroposteriorlateral area of thalamus

Question 18

what information does the gracile fasciculus carry?

Answer 18

input from lower extremities

-standing on the “grass”-medially

Question 19

what information does the cuneate fasciculus carry?

Answer 19

input from upper extremities

-laterally located

Question 20

where does the dorsal pathway cross at?

Answer 20

area of the medulla

• gracile or cuneate nucleus
• where the 1st order nucleus synapses with 2nd order nucleus