Primary neuron goes up/down a few
spinal segments before synapsing
http://youtu.be/QpoEh9VQ7so
Primary neuron
Synapses at the substantia
gelatinosa in the dorsal horn after
travelling in the Tract of Lissauer
Secondary neuron
Decussates and travels in the anterior or
lateral spinothalamic tracts to the medulla,
where the two tracts join to the spinal
lemniscus. The neuron then ascends to
the VPL of thalamus and synapses.
Tertiary neuron
Arises from the thalamus and
travels via the internal capsule
to the sensory cortex
Spinocerebellar Tract
Sensory Modalities
Unconscious proprioception
Receptors
Muscle Spindles
Golgi Tendon Organs
Joint capsules
http://youtu.be/cGxyJosd-pw
Clarke's column
Column in the dorsal horn
C8-L3
Ipsilateral 2 neurone pathway
Primary neuron
Anterior; cell body in
DRG, synapses at
Clarke's column
Posterior; cell body in
DRG, synapses at
Clarke's column
Secondary neuron
Anterior; travels up to Pons in
dorsal spinocerebellar tract, out of
Pons via Inferior Cerebellar
Peduncle, and into cerebellar cortex
Posterior; travels up to Midbrain in
dorsal spinocerebellar tract, out of
Midbrain via Superior Cerebellar
Peduncle and crosses over
cerebellum to synapse in the
cerebellar cortex
2 tracts, posterior
and anterior
Dorsal Columns
Receptor Modalities
Fine Touch
2-point discrimination
Proprioception
Vibration
Receptors
Meissner's Corpuscle, Merkel's
endings, Ruffini's endings and
Pacinian Corpuscle
Vibration
Fine touch
Vibration
Muscle Spindle and GTO
Proprioception
http://youtu.be/70Kg4uPem4U
Primary neuron
If from lower limb = gracilis, if from
upper limb = cuneatus, travel in
the dorsal column to the cuneate
and gracilis nuclei of the medulla
Secondary neuron
Decussate in the Medulla
and continue upwards in the
medal lemniscus to synapse
at the VPL in the thalamus
Tertiary neuron
Arises from the thalamus and
travels via the internal capsule
to the sensory cortex
Trigeminothalamic Tract
http://youtu.be/0kftFO3nAyY
Receptor Modalities
Pain, touch and temperature
from neck, head and face
Receptor
Free nerve ending
Pain
Primary Neuron
Travels through trigeminal
ganglion and down to the Medulla,
synapsing at the spinal nucleus
Secondary neuron
Travels in the trigeminal lemniscus to
the VPM (ventral posteromedial nucleus)
of the thalamus, where it synapses
Tertiary neuron
VPM via internal capsule
to cerebral cortex
Touch
Primary Neuron
Travels through trigeminal
ganglion and down to the
Pons, synapsing at the
Chief Sensory Nucleus
Temperature
Primary Neuron
Travels through trigeminal ganglion
and down to the midbrain, synapsing
at the Mesencephalic nucleus
Secondary Neuron
Spinal Cord White Matter
Cervical
Oval shape
Prominant dorsal horns
Extensive sensory input from upper limbs
Prominent ventral horns
Extensive motor output from the upper limbs
Gracile Fasciculus
Carries info from the
lower limb (below T3)
Cuneate fasciculus
Carries info from the
upper limb (T3 and above)
Thoracic
Small ventral horns
Lateral horns
Preganglionic sympathetic motor
Lumbar
Prominent dorsal horns
Extensive sensory input from lower limbs
Prominent ventral horns
Extensive motor output to lower limbs
Little white matter
Sacral
Small and round
Lateral horn from S2-S4
Mostly grey matter
Neurons and Receptors
3 Neurone System
Primary Neuron
Cell body in DRG
Secondary Neuron
Decussates
Tertiary Neuron
Thalamus (VPL) to cortex
Receptors
Exteroreceptors
Found on body surfaces
(external environment)
Interoreceptors
Internal receptors (viscera and internal environment)
Proprioceptors
Muscles
Respond to changes in muscle length and tension
Clinical Correlations
Subacute combined degeneration
Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)
Affects
Dorsal Columns
Spinocerebellar tracts
Corticospinal tracts
Syringomyelia
Fluid collection in
the spinal canal
Syrinx
Affects
Spinothalamic tract
Upper limb and upper
chest sensory loss
Brown-Sequad Syndrome
Trauma causing
damage to half of the
cord (hemisection)
Problems with the
dorsal columns on the
same side of the cord
Impaired spinothalamic on the
other side (pain and temp.)