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Questions and Answers
What type of information do ascending tracts in the spinal cord typically convey?
Which of the following is NOT a component of a somatosensory pathway?
What kind of modalities are NOT conveyed by the dorsal column/medial lemniscus pathway?
What is the primary function of the anterolateral (spinothalamic) pathway?
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Which term best describes proprioception?
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How do somatic senses differ from other types of senses?
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What are the main types of somatic sensations described in the text?
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Which modality-specific ascending somatosensory pathway conveys information about pressure, proprioception, vibration, and touch?
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What is the function of the third order neuron in a somatosensory pathway?
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How does the first order neuron reach the thalamus in the somatosensory pathway?
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Which sensory receptors are involved in differentiating between stimuli of different modalities at the fingertip?
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How can incoming sensory inputs from primary sensory axons be modified at the level of the spinal cord?
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Study Notes
Somatic Senses
- Somatic senses are senses that you are consciously aware of.
Tactile Senses
- Tactile senses include touch, pressure, vibration, itch, tickle, and temperature.
- These senses are also referred to as "touch" senses.
Pain
- Pain refers to the sensation of various stimuli (chemical, thermal, mechanical) associated with tissue damage.
Proprioception
- Proprioception is the awareness of where your limbs are in space and how they are moving.
Ascending and Descending Tracts
- Ascending tracts in the spinal cord convey sensory information.
- Descending tracts in the spinal cord convey motor information.
Somatosensory Pathways
- Somatosensory pathways are sensory pathways involved in the perception and sensation of somatic senses.
- Components of a somatosensory pathway include:
- First-order neurons (transduce somatic stimulus)
- Second-order neurons (relay information from sensory neurons to thalamus or spinal cord)
- Third-order neurons (relay information from thalamus to somatosensory cortex)
Dorsal Column/Medial Lemniscus Pathway
- This pathway conveys pressure, proprioception, touch, and vibration modalities.
- Components of this pathway include:
- First-order neuron (transduces somatic stimulus and enters spinal cord on one side of the body)
- Second-order neuron (crosses over to opposite side of medulla and ascends to thalamus)
- Third-order neuron (travels from thalamus and synapses in primary somatosensory cortex)
Anterolateral (Spinothalamic) Pathway
- This pathway conveys pain, itch, temperature, and tickle modalities.
Differentiation of Stimuli
- Differentiation between stimuli of different modalities in the same body part occurs through:
- Sensory receptors specific to each modality
- Neurons onto which they synapse in the ascending sensory systems
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Description
Test your knowledge on somatic senses, tactile senses, pain, and proprioception with this quiz. Learn about different sensations and awareness of body movements.
