Proprioception

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What is proprioception?

It’s the perception of one’s body in space

Conscious proprioception is located in what lobe ?

Parietal lobe

What is the primary role of proprioception in movement execution?

It solely focuses on maintaining balance during static positions.

It allows for well-timed, well-coordinated, and accurate movements. (correct)

It provides pain perception necessary for reflexive movements.

It enhances reflex actions without requiring conscious thought.

What would be an expected outcome in a patient with impaired proprioception?

Predictable changes in posture and gait. Signup and view all the answers

What type of tests are conducted to assess proprioception in animals?

Postural reaction tests that evaluate responses from abnormal positions. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of a complete neurologic exam, how critical is proprioception?

Proprioception is a crucial aspect to examine. Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred if a patient does not respond normally to postural reaction tests?

The patient may have proprioceptive deficits. Signup and view all the answers

What does a failure in proprioceptive testing indicate about the patient?

The patient has deficits in conscious proprioception. Signup and view all the answers

In which part of the brain does conscious proprioception terminate?

Parietal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the somatosensory cortex in relation to proprioception?

It integrates sensory information to provide perception of the body in space. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential for a patient to be conscious during proprioceptive testing?

To allow the testing of conscious proprioceptive pathways. Signup and view all the answers

What term is often used to describe the deficits observed when a patient fails a proprioceptive test?

CP deficits Signup and view all the answers

Which pathway is primarily responsible for transmitting proprioceptive information about the limbs and body to the brain?

Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus Pathway Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of the tracts in the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus pathway contributes to early loss of proprioception during spinal cord disorders?

They are superficial and heavily myelinated. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a function of general somatic afferents (GSA) related to proprioception?

Provide information about limb position during motion. Signup and view all the answers

Why is proprioceptive testing in domestic animals generally limited to facial symmetry assessments?

It is impractical to assess limb proprioception in animals. Signup and view all the answers

What does the integration of proprioceptive input allow the body to accomplish?

Maintain static and dynamic postural control. Signup and view all the answers

What is Kinesthesia?

a sense of the body’s location/posture during motion and allows us to coordinate our movements accordingly Signup and view all the answers

What is static position sense?

The body’s location/posture while at rest (not moving) Signup and view all the answers

What type of abnormalities should be observed during locomotion for proprioception testing?

Hypermetria and scuffing of toes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are considered definitive signs of proprioceptive dysfunction during gait testing?

Dragging of toes and wide gait Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary implication of ataxia in proprioception testing?

It suggests dysfunction of the nervous system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a consideration while assessing gait abnormalities for proprioception testing?

Presence of a fine motor skill deficit Signup and view all the answers

Ataxia is specific to CP deficits

False Signup and view all the answers

What are the tests (that were discussed in class) that we as veterinarians can use to determine a definitive diagnosis?

Proprioceptive positioning, wheelbarrowing, hopping, hemistanding/hemiwalking, placing test Signup and view all the answers

An abnormal postural reaction tests means the animal has proprioceptive deficits. We want to now locate where the proprioceptive pathway is interrupted, what are the three types of ataxia that can lead to these deficits ?

Proprioceptive, vestibular, and cerebellar Signup and view all the answers

The DCML pathway carries ascending CP information about the ______

The DCML pathway carries ascending CP information about the limbs and body Signup and view all the answers

The trigeminal pathway carries ascending CP information about our _________

The trigeminal pathway carries ascending CP information about our face Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of proprioceptors in the DCML pathway?

Skin mechanorecptors, muscle spindles, and golgi tendon organs Signup and view all the answers

Describe the pathway of the DCML pathway.

Primary afferent neuron has its cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia, it ascends via DCML, it decussate at the brain stem (specifically the medulla) and it’s relayed by the thalamus to the contralateral parietal lobe Signup and view all the answers

Together, the and make the DCML pathway

Together, the fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus make the DCML pathway Signup and view all the answers

The fasciculus gracilis is the (pelvic limb/thoracic limb) pathway

The fasciculus gracilis is the pelvic limb pathway Signup and view all the answers

The fasciculus cuneatus is the (pelvic/thoracic limb) pathway

The fasciculus cuneatus is the thoracic limb pathway Signup and view all the answers

What happens to proprioceptive fibers after they ascend ipsilaterally in the spinal cord?

They cross over at the brainstem to the contralateral side. Signup and view all the answers

At which point does the fasciculus cuneatus become irrelevant in proprioceptive pathways?

After the T2 vertebral level. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the thalamus in the proprioceptive pathway?

It acts as a relay station for perception at the contralateral parietal cortex. Signup and view all the answers

Where do proprioceptive fibers relay for conscious perception?

Contralateral parietal cortex Signup and view all the answers

Anything cranial to T2 indicates ______ tracts from the hindlimb and forelimb, anything caudal to T2 will only see (fasciculus gracilis/cuneatus)

Ascending, fasciculus gracilis Signup and view all the answers

What is a common clinical sign associated with vestibular ataxia?

Head tilt Signup and view all the answers

In the scenario where a patient exhibits ataxia but has normal proprioception, and we are considering vestibular ataxia, where is the lesion?

The lesion is in the vestibular apparatus: the vestibular component of CN VIII Signup and view all the answers

What are the common clinical signs of a patient with vestibular ataxia?

Resting nystagmus, head tilt, leaning, falling/rolling Signup and view all the answers

A patient with vestibular ataxia have abnormal posture, and abnormal postural reactions