Spinal Tracts

Question 1

Dcml

Answer 1

Dorsal column medial lemniscus

Dorsal root- sensory
Ventral root-motor
Conducts to somatosensory:
Soft/fine Touch
Vibration
Proprioception
Graphesthesia-ability to identify traced letter/number
Stereognosis- identify texture/shape

Pathway:
-1st order neurons, enter the central nervous system at the dorsal root
-Synapse with 2nd order in the medulla medial lemniscus 2nd order neurons crossover in the brain stem.
-3rd order in the thalamus were the stimuli are sorted by nature of stimulus and the region of the body involves and project to the cortex.

Question 2

Spinothalamic

Answer 2

Ascending sensory tract

Crude touch pressure(anterior)
Nociceptive information(lateral)
Temperature (lateral)

Associated fibers:
C fibers-Pain(dull), temp(hot), itch
A-delta-Pain Pain(sharp),Temp(cool)

1st order neurons synapse with the 2nd in the posterior gray horn at the level of entrance (dorsal root).

The 2nd order crosses before ascending and synapsing in the thalamus, anterior crosses in the decussation pyramids.

-Third order synapse at the level of the primary somatosensory cortex from the thalamus.

Question 3

Spinoreticulothalamic pathway

Answer 3

It ascends parallel to lateral spinothalamic tract.

fibers have a roll in automatic response to arousal or emotional responses to pain

Question 4

Spinocerebellar pathway?

Answer 4

Information about muscle tendon and joint position from the spine to the cerebellum.
This information is subconscious
Pathway :
-1st order neurons synapse in the dorsal horn.
-2nd order neurons ascend via anterior and posterior spinocerebellar tracts to the cerebral cortex.
-used to coordinate movements
-This pathway does not have a third order neuron, and the pathway is ipsilateral.

Question 5

Cuneocerebelar

Answer 5

Same as Spinocerebellar
Proprioception in joints and muscles

Question 6

Spinotectile

Answer 6

Tattle, painful and thermal stimuli

Question 7

Spinal-olivary

Answer 7

Additional information to the cerebellum as an accessory pathway

Question 8

Rubrospinal tract vs vestibulospinal tract

Answer 8

Promotion of flexor, inhibition of extensor activity
VT- inhibition of flexor and promotion of extensor muscle activity

Question 9

Tectospinal

Answer 9

Postural movements from visual stimuli