Tracts and Pathways Flashcards
Located in the pre central gyrus, this is the major control region of the cerebral cortex for initiation of voluntary movements
primary motor area
Direct pathways conveying impulses from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord that result in precise, voluntary movements
pyramidal pathways
Contains motor neuron that control skilled movements of the hands and feet
Lateral corticiospinal tract
Tracts include rubrospinal, tecospinal, vestibulospinal, lateral reticulospinal, and medial reticulospinal
Extrapyramidal pathways
Contain neurons that help initiate and terminate movements; can suppress unwanted movements; influence muscle tone
Basal Ganglia
Carries impulses for pain, temperature, tickle, and itch
Anterolateral (spinothalamic) pathway
The major routes relaying proprioceptive input to the cerebellum; critical for posture, balance, and coordination of skilled movements
Spinocerebellar tracts
Composed of axons of first order neutrons; include the gracile fascicles and cuneate fasciculus
Posterior column
Contains motor neurone that coordinate movements of the axial skeleton
Anterior corticospinal tract
Contains axons that convey impulses for precise, voluntary movements of the eyes, tongue, and neck, plus chewing, facial expression, and speech
Corticobulbar tracts
conveys sensations of touch, conscious proprioception, pressure, and vibration the cerebral cortex
Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway
Carries impulses for most somatic sensations from the face, nasal cavity, oral cavity, and teeth
Trigenimothalamic pathway
receptors located in muscles, tendons, joints, and the inner ear
proprioceptors
receptors located in blood vessels, visceral organs, muscles, and the nervous system
interoceptors
receptors that detect temperature changes
thermoreceptors
receptors that detect light that strikes the retina of the eye
photoreceptors
receptors located at or near the external surface of the body
exteroceptors
bare dendrites associated with pain, thermal, tickle, itch, and some touch sensations
free nerve endings
receptors that provide information about body position, muscle tension, and position and activity of joints
proprioceptors
receptors that sense osmotic pressures of body fluids
osmoreceptors
receptors that detect chemicals in the mouth, nose, and body fluids
chemoreceptors
receptors that detect mechanical pressure or stretching
mechanoreceptors
receptors that respond to stimuli resulting from physical or chemical damage to tissues
nociceptors
dendrites enclosed in a connective tissue capsule
encapsulated nerve endings
