Sensory pathways — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Which ascending spinal tract is responsible for the transmission of **pain** and **temperature** sensations?

Answer: Spinothalamic tract

Extra: The spinothalamic tract also carries **crude touch**. Key anatomical features: 1. **First-order neurons:** Cell bodies in dorsal root ganglia. 2. **Decussation:** Occurs in the spinal cord at the level of entry via the **anterior white commissure**. 3. **Termination:** VPL nucleus of the thalamus.

Flashcard 2: Which type of sensory receptor is found on finger tips and joints? _____

Answer: Ruffini corpuscles

Flashcard 3: The 1st-order neurons of the dorsal column-medial lemniscal tract are sensory nerve endings with cell bodies located in a _____

Answer: DRG

Flashcard 4: The 3rd-order neuron of the spinothalamic tract travels to the _____

Answer: primary somatosensory cortex (postcentral gyrus)

Flashcard 5: Which ascending spinal tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations?

Answer: Spinothalamic tract

Flashcard 6: The _____-cerebellar tract carries unconscious proprioceptive input from the upper extremities/trunk

Answer: cuneo

Flashcard 7: The 2nd-order neurons of trigeminal nerve nuclei synapse in the _____ nucleus of the thalamus

Answer: ventral posteromedial (VPM)

Flashcard 8: What is an Argyll-Robertson pupil?

Answer: pupil that is unreactive to light but constricts with accomodation

Flashcard 9: Embryological origin of the neurohypophysis

Answer: Neuroectoderm (Diencephalon)

Extra: The neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary) develops from a downward extension of the neuroectoderm from the floor of the diencephalon (the infundibulum). In contrast, the adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary) develops from Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm).

Flashcard 10: pineal gland

Answer: neuroectoderm