Neuroanatomy - Sensory Pathways

62 important questions on Neuroanatomy - Sensory Pathways

Summarize the sensory process of sensation

1. Stimulus activates a receptor
2. Sensory receptor converts stimulus into nerve impulse
3. Impulse is sent to brain via afferent neuron
4. Signal is integrated in the brain to produce a sensation

What are the three characteristics of sensation?

Perception, sensory modality, adaptation

What determines the sensory modality carried by a sensory neuron?

The type of receptor that a sensory neuron is in contact with determines the one sensory modality carried by that neuron.
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Which types of neurons are able to exhibit sensory adaptation?

All neurons involved with smell, hearing, taste, touch, and sight

What are the two main classifications of general senses?

1. Somatic sensation
2. Visceral sensation

Which sensations are under the category of somatic sensation?

1. Tactile sensation (touch, pressure, vibration)
2. Thermal sensation
3. Pain sensation
4. Proprioceptive sensation

Which sensations are under the category of visceral sensation?

1. Pain
2. Fullness
3. Cardiac rhythm
4. Respiration

Which sensations are special senses?

Smell, taste, vision, hearing, and balance

What are the three factors that determine the classification of sensory receptors?

1. Receptor location
2. Activating stimuli
3. Type of stimulus detected

What is the location, activating stimuli, and function of exteroceptors?

Location - at or near body surface
Activating stimuli - stimuli originating outside the body
Function - provide information about external environment

What is the location and function of interoceptors?

Location - in blood vessels, visceral organs, and nervous system
Function - provide information about internal environment

What is the location and function of proprioceptors?

Location - in muscles, tendons, joints, and inner ear
Function - provide information about body position, muscle length and tension, position and motion of joints, and equilibrium/balance

What stimuli do photoreceptors detect?

Detect light that strikes the retina of the eye

What stimuli do mechanoreceptors detect?

Detect mechanical stimuli

What is the function mechanoreceptors?

1. Provide sensations of touch, pressure, vibration, proprioception, and hearing
2. Maintaining equilibrium
3. Monitors stretching of blood vessels and internal organs

What stimuli do thermoreceptors detect?

Detect changes in temperature

What stimuli do thermoreceptors detect?

Osmotic pressure of body fluids

What stimuli do chemoreceptors detect?

Detect chemicals in mouth for taste, nose for smell, and body fluids

What are the 3 somatic sensory pathways?

1. Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (dorsal columns)
2. Anterolateral/spinothalamic pathway
3. Spinocerebellar pathway

Which of the somatic sensory pathways are 3 neuron pathways?

Posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway (dorsal column) and anterolateral/spinothalamic pathway

Which of the somatic sensory pathways are 2 neuron pathways?

Spinocerebellar pathway

Where does the 1st order neuron of a 3-neuron somatic sensory pathway relay sensory information to and from?

From somatic receptor to brainstem or spinal cord

Where does the 2nd order neuron of a 3-neuron somatic sensory pathway relay sensory information to and from?

From brainstem or spinal cord to thalamus or cerebellum

Where do all 2nd order neurons of a 3 neuron somatic sensory pathway decussate?

All 2nd order neurons decussate before ascending to thalamus, thus all somatic sensory information reaching the brain on the contralateral side of the sensation

Where does the 3rd order neuron of a 3-neuron somatic sensory pathway relay sensory information to and from?

From the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex on the same side

What sensory information does posterior column medial lemniscus pathway carry?

Information about discriminative touch, proprioception, weight discrimination, and vibration

Where does the 1st order neuron of posterior column medial lemniscus pathway carry information to and from?

From peripheral receptor in trunk and limbs to medulla oblongata on ipsilateral side of sensation

What do the ascending axons of the 1st order neurons in the posterior column medial lemniscus pathway form?

Forms the dorsal columns divided into two sets
1. Fasciculus cuneatus
2. Fasciculus fracilis

Where does the two bundles of ascending axons from the 1st order neurons of posterior column medial lemniscus pathway carry information from?

Fasciculus cuneatus - carries information from upper thorax, posterior head, neck, and upper limb
Fasciculus gracilis - carries information from lower thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and lower limb

Where is the cell body of the 2nd order neuron from the posterior column medial lemniscus pathway located?

Located in gracile or cuneate nucleus of medulla oblongata

How does the 2nd order neuron of posterior column medial lemniscus pathway synapse with the third order neuron?

Axons of 2nd order neuron decussates in medulla as internal arcuate fibres --> continues ascending through brainstem as medial lemniscus to the thalamus of the contralateral side

Where does the 3rd order neuron of posterior column medial lemniscus pathway project to and from?

Projects from the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex ipsilaterally

What does multiple sclerosis (MS) cause?

Demyelination, inhibiting proper relaying of nerve impulses

What are the possible symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in posterior column medial lemniscus pathway?

Disruption to relaying of proprioceptive information, especially regarding the fingertips
Loss of dexterity
Loss of ability to identify an object by touch alone

What sensory information does anterolateral/spinothalamic pathway carry?

Pain, thermal sensation, nondiscriminative touch, and pressure

Where does the 1st order neuron of anterolateral pathway receive sensory information from and relay it to?

Receive sensory information from peripheral receptors in trunk, neck, and limbs. Relays to dorsal horn of the spinal cord on the ipsilateral side

Where is the cell body of 2nd order neuron in anterolateral pathway?

Dorsal horn of spinal cord

How does the 2nd order neuron of anterolateral pathway synpase with the 3rd order neuron?

Axons of 2nd order neuron decussate at entry level --> ascends to thalamus in lateral or anterior spinothalamic tract

Where does the 3rd order neuron of anterolateral pathway project to?

Projects from the thalamus to the somatosensory cortex

What is syringomyelia and how does it affect the anterolateral pathway?

A condition in which the central canal of the spinal cord becomes enlarged, interfering with the anterolateral tract. Results in loss of sensations of pain and temperature.

What is the purpose of a tractotomy of the anterolateral pathway?

Tractotomy (surgical cutting) of anterolateral pathway is used as a treatment for intractable pain (pain that doesn't respond to medication).

What sensory information does the spinocerebellar pathway carry?

Proprioceptive information from Golgi tendon organs, muscle spindles, and joint capsules

What is the function of spinocerebellar pathway?

Control of posture and coordination of movements

Where does the 1st order neuron of the spinocerebellar pathway relaying sensory information to and from?

From peripheral receptor to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord

Where is the cell body of the 2nd order neuron of spinocerebellar pathway located?

Located in dorsal horn of spinal cord

What are two possible pathways for axons of the 2nd order neurons in spinocerebellar pathway to ascend to the cerebellum?

1. Anterior spinocerebellar tract
2. Posterior spinocerebellar tract

How do axons of the anterior spinocerebellar tract reach the cerebellum?

Axons decussate at entry level and ascend to the cerebellum on the contralateral side

How do axons of the posterior spinocerebellar tract reach the cerebellum?

Axons ipsilaterally ascend to the cerebellum

What is Friedreich's ataxia?

A neurodegenerative disorder that specifically disrupts and degenerates the spinocerebellar pathway, leading to incoordination of muscles, inability to speak, and inability to walk.

What are the general sensations from head and neck carried by CN V (trigeminal)?

Touch, pressure, pain, and thermal sensation from face, scalp, cornea, nasal, and oral cavities (teeth, gums, and paranasal sinuses)

What are the general sensations from head and neck carried by CN VII (facial)?

- Taste from anterior 2/3 of tongue, floor of mouth and palate
- Cutaneous/skin sensation from part of external ear

What are the general sensations from head and neck carried by CN IX (glossopharyngeal)?

- General sensations and taste buds of posterior 1/3 of tongue and pharynx (important for swallowing and gag reflex)
- Sensation from eustachian tube of middle ear

What are the general sensations from head and neck carried by CN X (vagus)?

- General sensation from muscle of the throat area (pharynx, larynx, oesophagus)
- Sensation from external ear

What is the name of the system that includes CN V, VII, IX, and X for general sensations from head and neck?

Trigeminal sensory system

Where are the 1st order neurons of the trigeminal sensory system located?

Located in ganglia of cranial nerve

List the two nuclei of the 2nd order neurons in the trigeminal sensory system?

1. Principal sensory trigeminal nucleus
2. Descending spinal trigeminal nucleus

Which cranial nerve's 1st order neurons synapse with the principal sensory trigeminal nucleus?

CN V (trigeminal)

Which cranial nerve's 1st order neurons synapse with the descending spinal trigeminal nucleus?

CN V (facial), VII (facial), IX (glossopharyngeal), X (vagus)

Which cranial nerve has its 1st order neurons synapsing with both the principal sensory and descending spinal trigeminal nucleus?

CN V (trigeminal)

How do axons of 2nd order neurons carrying information about touch and pressure synapse with 3rd order neurons? (regarding trigeminal sensory system)

Axons for touch and pressure sensations decussate --> forms ascending ventral trigeminal lemniscus to the thalamus

How do axons of 2nd order neurons carrying information about pain synapse with 3rd order neurons? (regarding trigeminal sensory system)

Axons ascend bilaterally to reticular formation and thalamus, processing excruciating pain

Where do the third-order neurons project to?

From the thalamus to the lateral somatosensory cortex and intralaminar thalamic nuclei

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