20 Questions
Damage to the anterior spinothalamic tract can result in:
Selective loss of pain and temperature in upper limbs
Which structure is primarily involved in the spinocerebellar system?
Clark's nucleus
What is the characteristic of axons in the posterior spinocerebellar tract?
They terminate ipsilaterally in the cerebellar cortex
The dorsal column pathway is responsible for transmitting signals related to:
Touch, pressure, and vibration sensations
What can happen if there is damage to the spinotectal tract?
Impairment in muscle coordination
What type of sensations are carried by the lateral spinothalamic tract?
Crude touch and pressure
Where do the cell bodies of second-order neurons in the spinothalamic tract lie?
In the contralateral dorsal horn
Which nucleus is responsible for transmitting information from Neurone III to the thalamus in the spinothalamic tract?
(VP) nucleus of the thalamus
What is the function of the spinotectal tract?
Transmits sensory information to the superior colliculus in the midbrain
Which tract carries impulses for non-discriminative touch and pressure from the contralateral side?
Anterior spinothalamic tract
Where do the cell bodies of the 2nd order neurons of the ventral (anterior) spinocerebellar tract lie?
Base of the dorsal horn of the lumbosacral segments
Which tract is involved in reflexive turning of the head and eyes towards a point of cutaneous stimulation?
Spinotectal tract
In Friedrich's ataxia, which system is primarily affected, leading to symptoms like incoordination of arms, intense tremor, wide base reeling gait, and ataxia?
Spinocerebellar tracts
From which part do the impulses from the spinal cord reach the cerebellum via the inferior olivary nucleus in the indirect spinocerebellar pathway (spino-olivocerebellar)?
Inferior olivary nucleus
Which tract crosses to the opposite side twice, once in the spinal cord and again within the cerebellum?
Ventral spinocerebellar tract
Where does the second-order neurone in the spinothalamic pathway cross over to the opposite side of the CNS?
Medulla oblongata
Which part of the brain does the third-order neurone in the dorsal column pathway have its cell body?
Thalamus
What type of information is carried by the dorsal column pathway?
Proprioception and discriminative touch
Which major tracts are found within the dorsal column pathway?
Fasciculus Gracilis & Fasciculus Cuneatus
Where do primary afferent neurons enter the cord in the dorsal column pathway?
Dorsal root of spinal nerves
Study Notes
Spinal Tracts
- Damage to the anterior spinothalamic tract can result in loss of pain and temperature sensation.
Spinocerebellar System
- The structure primarily involved in the spinocerebellar system is the cerebellum.
- Axons in the posterior spinocerebellar tract have a characteristic of being unipolar brush cells.
Dorsal Column Pathway
- The dorsal column pathway is responsible for transmitting signals related to fine touch, vibration, and proprioception.
- The pathway carries information about discriminative touch, pressure, and proprioception.
Spinotectal Tract
- Damage to the spinotectal tract can result in defective reflexive turning of the head and eyes towards a point of cutaneous stimulation.
- The function of the spinotectal tract is to transmit information for reflexive movements.
Spinothalamic Tract
- The lateral spinothalamic tract carries sensations of pain and temperature.
- The cell bodies of second-order neurons in the spinothalamic tract lie in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
- The ventral posterior lateral (VPL) nucleus is responsible for transmitting information from Neurone III to the thalamus in the spinothalamic tract.
Ventral Spinocerebellar Tract
- The cell bodies of the 2nd order neurons of the ventral (anterior) spinocerebellar tract lie in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.
Spinocerebellar Tracts
- The anterior spinocerebellar tract carries impulses for non-discriminative touch and pressure from the contralateral side.
- The ventral spinocerebellar tract crosses to the opposite side twice, once in the spinal cord and again within the cerebellum.
Friedrich's Ataxia
- In Friedrich's ataxia, the spinocerebellar system is primarily affected, leading to symptoms like incoordination of arms, intense tremor, wide base reeling gait, and ataxia.
Spinolivocerebellar Pathway
- Impulses from the spinal cord reach the cerebellum via the inferior olivary nucleus in the indirect spinocerebellar pathway.
Spinothalamic Pathway
- The second-order neuron in the spinothalamic pathway crosses over to the opposite side of the CNS in the spinal cord.
- The third-order neuron in the dorsal column pathway has its cell body in the thalamus.
Dorsal Column Pathway
- The pathway carries information about discriminative touch, pressure, and proprioception.
- The major tracts found within the dorsal column pathway are the fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus.
- Primary afferent neurons enter the cord in the dorsal column pathway through the dorsal root ganglia.
Test your knowledge about the Spinothalamic Tracts, which carry impulses related to sensations like pain, thermal, touch, and pressure across the body. Learn about how the fibers decussate in the brain stem and transmit information to the primary sensory cortex.
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