Spinal tracts

Question 1

dorsal horns receive

Answer 1

somatosensory

Question 2

ventral horns receive

Answer 2

motor neurons

Question 3

lateral horns

Answer 3

autonomic neurons (think of location)`

Question 4

how many ascending spinal tracts are there that you need to know

Answer 4

3

Question 5

name the three ascending spinal tracts

Answer 5

Dorsal column

Spinothalamic

Spinocerebellar

Question 6

The descending tract is?

Answer 6

The corticospinal tract

Question 7

Descending tract: grey or white matter?

Answer 7

white matter

Question 8

Role of dorsal column?

Answer 8

Fine touch, pressure and vibration

Question 9

Nucleus cuneatus and nucleus gracilis are components of which spinal tract?

Answer 9

Dorsal column

Question 10

Does the dorsal column cross sides?

Answer 10

yes

Question 11

Where do the nerve fibres from the dorsal column cross?

Answer 11

They decussate are the contralateral medial lemniscus

Question 12

Is the dorsal column motor/sensory/somatosensory

Answer 12

Somatosensory

Question 13

Nucleus cuneatus of the dorsal column can be found where?

Answer 13

Above T6 as it receives input from the upper limbs

Question 14

Nucleus gracillis can be found where?

Answer 14

In the dorsal column below the level of T6 as it receives input from the lower limbs

Question 15

Is the dorsal column efferent or afferent?

Answer 15

Afferent

Question 16

Is the corticospinal tract efferent or afferent?

Answer 16

Efferent as it is MOTOR which drives away from Scotland cause the rain:(

Question 17

Spinothalamic is found in the grey or white matter?

Answer 17

It is found in the grey matter as it is an ascending tract

Question 18

What is the spinothalamic tract responsible for?

Answer 18

Pain and temperature

Question 19

When do the spinothalamic fibres cross?

Answer 19

Immediately and travel up the contralateral side of the spinal cord

Question 20

Will a lesion affecting the spinothalamic tract (level of the second order neuron) be at the same side of the symptoms experienced?

Answer 20

No, it will be at the contralateral side as the fibres cross immediately in the spinal cord before ascending to the thalamus.

Question 21

A lesion affecting the dorsal column will cause: ipsilateral or contralateral symptoms?

Answer 21

It will cause ipsilateral symptoms as the fibres don’t decussate until at the contralateral medial lemniscus in the medulla oblongata

Question 22

The spinocerebellar tract is responsible for what?

Answer 22

Proprioception

Question 23

Is the spinocerebellar tract contralateral or ipsilateral?

Answer 23

Ipsilateral - takes info from same side to the ipsilateral cerebellum

Question 24

Is the spinocerebellar efferent or afferent

Answer 24

Afferent - sensory

Question 25

Name of the descending tract

Answer 25

Corticospinal (posterior and anterior tracts)

Question 26

Role of the corticospinal tract

Answer 26

Voluntary movements

Question 27

Is the corticospinal tract motor or sensory

Answer 27

Motor

Question 28

Where does the information from the corticospinal tract originate

Answer 28

Precentral gyrus (motor cortex)

Question 29

Do the corticospinal tract fibres cross?

Answer 29

Yes

Question 30

Where do the corticospinal tract fibres cross?

Answer 30

They decussate at the pyramid of the medulla and descend via the lateral corticospinal tract

Question 31

A lesion affecting the corticospinal tract at will cause contralateral or ipsilateral symptoms?

Answer 31

Contralateral as most fibres cross at the medulla

Question 32

upper motor neuron lesion is found where?

Answer 32

anything found in the corticospinal tract ie a lesion of affecting the upper motor neuron can be found anywhere from the precentral gyrus of the motor cortex to the synapse at the anterior horn in the cord

Question 33

symptom of an upper motor neuron deficit

Answer 33

weakness, spasticity, hyperflexia (Babinski sign) and possibly clonus

Question 34

LMN lesion can be found where?

Answer 34

anywhere from the anterior horn to the peripheral nerves

Question 35

Signs of a LMN lesion

Answer 35

wasting, fasciculation (spontaneous involuntary twitching), hypotonia and flaccidity
reflexes will be reduced or absent