35 Questions
Where do afferent fibers travel into the cord?
Dorsal rootlets
Which type of fibers are found in the lateral division of the dorsal rootlets?
Pain and temperature fibers
What type of information do ascending tracts convey?
Type, location, intensity of stimulus
Where do first order cell bodies of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract reside?
Dorsal root ganglion
Where do the ipsilateral fibers of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract ascend?
Fasciculus gracilis
Where do the contralateral fibers of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract cross?
Tegmentum of caudal medulla
What type of information is conveyed by the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract?
Vibration, joint position sense, touch, pressure
Where do the axons of spinal nerves S5-T7 ascend in the spinal cord?
Fasciculus gracilis
Where are the 2nd order cell bodies located for the axons of spinal nerves T6-C1?
Nuclei gracile and cuneatus
Which system conveys pain and temperature, with predominantly crossed A-delta and C fibers located in the ventral white commissure?
Anterolateral system
Which tract within the anterolateral system conveys dull, achy pain?
Paleospinothalamic
Where do the axons of the neospinothalamic pathway project to for integration of sensory inputs and emotional processing of pain?
Primary sensory cortex, posterior parietal lobe, insula, and amygdala
Which pathway produces elementary aspects such as autonomic activation, escape responses, arousal, and fear, with thalamic nuclei projecting to the limbic system?
Spinoreticular, spinomesencephalic, and spinohypothalamic pathways
Where is the major area for processing the emotional component of pain located, connected with various other areas for pain modulation?
Anterior cingulate cortex
Where does modulation of pain occur using interneurons in the spinal cord and supraspinal pathways?
Periaqueductal gray and tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum
Which tracts convey unconscious proprioception from different body parts and ultimately terminate in the cerebellum, working with it in motor learning and making corrections during ongoing movements?
Dorsal spinocerebellar tract, cuneocerebellar tract, ventral spinocerebellar tract, spino-olivary tract, and olivocerebellar tract
Where do the first order cell bodies of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract reside?
Dorsal root ganglion (DRG)
Which type of fibers are found in the lateral division of the dorsal rootlets?
Pain and temperature fibers
Where do the contralateral fibers of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract cross?
Tegmentum of caudal medulla
Where do afferent fibers travel into the cord?
Dorsal rootlets
Where is the major area for processing the emotional component of pain located, connected with various other areas for pain modulation?
Limbic system
Where do the ipsilateral fibers of the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract ascend?
Fasciculus gracilis
What type of information is conveyed by the Dorsal Column - Medial Lemniscus tract?
Vibration, joint position sense, touch, and pressure
Where do the axons of spinal nerves S5–T7 ascend in the spinal cord?
Fasciculus gracilis
Where do the axons of spinal nerves T6-C1 ascend in the spinal cord?
Fasciculus cuneatus
Where are the 3rd order cell bodies located for the axons of spinal nerves T6-C1?
Ventral posterior (lateral) thalamic nucleus
Which tract within the anterolateral system conveys cutaneous information associated with alertness, consciousness, and pain?
Spinoreticular tract
Which tract conveys unconscious proprioception from different body parts and ultimately terminates in the cerebellum?
Dorsal spinocerebellar tract
Where does the neospinothalamic pathway project to for integration of sensory inputs and emotional processing of pain?
Primary sensory cortex
Which pathway produces sharp and well-localized pain within the spinothalamic tracts?
Neospinothalamic
Where is the major area for processing the emotional component of pain located, connected with various other areas for pain modulation?
Anterior cingulate cortex
What type of information is conveyed by the anterolateral system?
Pain and temperature
Where does modulation of pain occur using interneurons in the spinal cord and supraspinal pathways?
Periaqueductal gray
Where do the 2nd order cell bodies reside for the axons of spinal nerves S5-T7?
Nuclei gracile and cuneatus
What is the function of tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum, such as the dorsal spinocerebellar tract?
Convey unconscious proprioception
Study Notes
Ascending Sensory Pathways and Tracts in the Spinal Cord
- Axons of spinal nerves T6-C1 ascend in the fasciculus cuneatus, with 2nd order cell bodies in the nuclei gracile and cuneatus
- 3rd order cell bodies are in the ventral posterior (lateral) thalamic nucleus, and axons course through the internal capsule to the sensory cortex
- The anterolateral system conveys pain and temperature, with A-delta and C fibers predominantly crossed and located in the ventral white commissure
- The anterolateral system includes three tracts: spinothalamic (neospinothalamic, paleospinothalamic), spinoreticular, and spinomesencephalic
- The spinothalamic tracts are somatotopically organized, with neospinothalamic being sharp and well-localized, and paleospinothalamic conveying dull, achy pain
- The spinoreticular tract conveys cutaneous information associated with alertness, consciousness, and pain, while the spinomesencephalic axons ascend to the superior colliculus and periaqueductal gray for reflex responses and pain modulation
- The neospinothalamic pathway projects to the primary sensory cortex, posterior parietal lobe, insula, and amygdala, allowing for integration of sensory inputs and emotional processing of pain
- Spinoreticular, spinomesencephalic, and spinohypothalamic pathways produce elementary aspects such as autonomic activation, escape responses, arousal, and fear, with thalamic nuclei projecting to the limbic system
- The anterior cingulate cortex is a major area for processing the emotional component of pain, connected with various other areas for pain modulation
- Modulation of pain occurs using interneurons in the spinal cord and supraspinal pathways, such as the periaqueductal gray and tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum for unconscious proprioception
- Tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum include the dorsal spinocerebellar tract, cuneocerebellar tract, ventral spinocerebellar tract, spino-olivary tract, and olivocerebellar tract
- These tracts convey unconscious proprioception from different body parts and ultimately terminate in the cerebellum, working with it in motor learning and making corrections during ongoing movements.
Ascending Sensory Pathways and Tracts in the Spinal Cord
- Axons of spinal nerves T6-C1 ascend in the fasciculus cuneatus, with 2nd order cell bodies in the nuclei gracile and cuneatus
- 3rd order cell bodies are in the ventral posterior (lateral) thalamic nucleus, and axons course through the internal capsule to the sensory cortex
- The anterolateral system conveys pain and temperature, with A-delta and C fibers predominantly crossed and located in the ventral white commissure
- The anterolateral system includes three tracts: spinothalamic (neospinothalamic, paleospinothalamic), spinoreticular, and spinomesencephalic
- The spinothalamic tracts are somatotopically organized, with neospinothalamic being sharp and well-localized, and paleospinothalamic conveying dull, achy pain
- The spinoreticular tract conveys cutaneous information associated with alertness, consciousness, and pain, while the spinomesencephalic axons ascend to the superior colliculus and periaqueductal gray for reflex responses and pain modulation
- The neospinothalamic pathway projects to the primary sensory cortex, posterior parietal lobe, insula, and amygdala, allowing for integration of sensory inputs and emotional processing of pain
- Spinoreticular, spinomesencephalic, and spinohypothalamic pathways produce elementary aspects such as autonomic activation, escape responses, arousal, and fear, with thalamic nuclei projecting to the limbic system
- The anterior cingulate cortex is a major area for processing the emotional component of pain, connected with various other areas for pain modulation
- Modulation of pain occurs using interneurons in the spinal cord and supraspinal pathways, such as the periaqueductal gray and tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum for unconscious proprioception
- Tracts from the spinal cord to the cerebellum include the dorsal spinocerebellar tract, cuneocerebellar tract, ventral spinocerebellar tract, spino-olivary tract, and olivocerebellar tract
- These tracts convey unconscious proprioception from different body parts and ultimately terminate in the cerebellum, working with it in motor learning and making corrections during ongoing movements.
Test your knowledge of the ascending sensory pathways and tracts in the spinal cord with this quiz. Explore the organization, functions, and connections of the sensory system, including the spinothalamic, spinoreticular, and spinomesencephalic tracts, as well as the role of the cerebellum in unconscious proprioception and motor learning.
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