Spinal Pathways-Spinothalamic

Question 1

How does sensory information get to the brain?

Answer 1

sensory receptor>spinal cord/brainstem (only this for cranial nerves)>brain

Question 2

What are bundles of cell bodies in the brainstem called? (equivalent to ganglia)

Answer 2

Nuclei

Question 3

What are nuclei in the brainstem?

Answer 3

Bundles of motor nerve cell bodies of the cranial nerves, site of synapses in the spinal pathways, site of cell bodies that control veg functions

Question 4

Where are nuclei in the brainstem located?

Answer 4

Grey matter

Question 5

What is white matter in the brainstem?

Answer 5

Fiber tracts, carry information to/from spinal cord, carry information to the cerebellum

Question 6

These are the 3 major somatic sensory pathways

Answer 6

Spinothalamic (anterolateral)
Posterior column-Medial lemniscus
Spinocerebellar

Question 7

What is carried in the spinothalamic tract?

Answer 7

Conscious sensory information-itch, tickle, pain, temperature, crude touch (simply feeling pressure/sensation, not specific)

Question 8

What are the 31 spinal pairs?

Answer 8

8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal

Question 9

What nerve structure would carry an itch to the brain?

Answer 9

Unipolar, through the dorsal root

Question 10

Where does a sensory signal go after it synapses in the spinal cord?

Answer 10

Carried to the opposite side it was received by a multipolar neuron

Question 11

What is the name for the multipolar neuron that the sensory neuron synapses with in the spinal cord that travels to the brain stem?

Answer 11

Second order neuron

Question 12

What does the second order neuron synapse with in the thalamus?

Answer 12

Third order neuron