Somatosensory System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 3 types of somatosensory systems

A

Cutaneous (skin) sensation

Visceral (internal organs)

Proprioception (identity of limbs)

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2
Q

Which receptors in somatosensory system convert stimuli eg light into AP

A

Sensory receptors

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3
Q

What is a stimuli converted to in first step of sensory transduction

A

Receptor / graded potential

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4
Q

What happens if receptor/ grades potential reaches threshold due to large stimulus

A

AP can be fired

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5
Q

In AP initiation what suggests large stimulus

A

AP frequency

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6
Q

On the skin, what are the 2 layers called

A

Top epidermis and bottom dermis

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7
Q

Where are most receptors in skin found

A

In dermis (superficial)

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8
Q

What are the 4 skin receptors which are superficial

A

Merkels disk

Meissner corpuscle

Hair follicle receptor

Free nerve (no receptor)

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9
Q

What are the 2 types or deep receptors

A

Pacinian corpuscle

Ruffini’s corpuscle

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10
Q

What are the 3 nerve fibres connected to skin receptors

A

AB - large and myelinated (fastest)

A delta - small and myelinated

C - small and unmyelinated (slowest)

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11
Q

What is a receptive field

A

Area which a stimulus activates receptors and the nerve fibres

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12
Q

Which 2 receptors have small receptive fields

A

Meissner corpuscle and merkels disk

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13
Q

Which skin receptor detects stroking in a direction (large RF)

A

Ruffinis

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14
Q

What are slow adaptation receptors

A

Receptors which have a receptor potential and therefore fire AP all the way through a stimulus

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15
Q

What are fast adapting receptors

A

Receptors which have receptor potential / AP firing at start and end of stimulus not during

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16
Q

What are fast adapting receptors useful for

A

Identifying change Eg the slipping of an object

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17
Q

What on a pacinian corpuscle allows it to have a rapid adaptation

A

It’s capsule (bends during a stimulus, then pushes back at end of stimulus = rapid adaptation)

18
Q

What are bare nerve endings for (superficial skin endings)

A

Detection of warm or cold temperatures

19
Q

Which nerve is attached to bare nerve endings in skin to detect warm temp

A

C fibre (small and unmyelinated)

20
Q

Which nerve ending defects cold in skin

A

A delta (small and myelinated)

21
Q

Which receptors detect pain/ noxious stimuli

A

Nociceptors

22
Q

What are 4 types of nociceptors

A

Mechanical (crushing pricking pain)

Thermal pain

First pain (stabbing)

Second pain (burning)

23
Q

What detects sharp sensation (first pain)

A

A delta nerve endings

24
Q

Which nerve detects second pain (burning)

A

C fibre

25
Q

Which 2 receptors are ones with slow adaptation

A

Merkels disk and Ruffinis

26
Q

Which nerve is attached to all but temp/ bare nerve endings

A

AB (large and myelinated)

27
Q

What are the 2 pathways transmitting cutaneous signals eg from AB to the brain

A

Dorsal column pathway DC

Spinothalmic tract STT pathway

28
Q

What do fibres synapse with / cross over in the grey matter for the STT ventral pathway

A

Neurones from grey matter to the STT then to brain

29
Q

Where does crossing over (decussation) of fibres happen in the DC pathway after moving from Dorsal columns to brain

A

Medulla (dorsal column nuclei)

30
Q

Where is the first synapse in DC pathway unlike STT in the grey matter

A

Medulla (dorsal column nuclei)

31
Q

What happens in decussation of DC fibres

A

They move to opposite side of brain

32
Q

Where is the second synapse between in the DC pathway

A

Thalamus and somatosensory cortex

33
Q

What does decussation mean for info on different sides of body

A

Left body info goes to right brain cortex

Right body info goes to left brain cortex

34
Q

What info is in DC pathway

A

recognition of objects/ fine touch and also detection of movement on skin surface

35
Q

Which system allows edges of objects to be detected in dc pathway

A

Lateral inhibition

36
Q

Explain steps of lateral inhibition

A

Receptor potential highest in nerve below the stimulus more than others

More NT released

Larger stimulation of secondary neurones due to more NT

Secondary neurones from other areas are pre synaptically inhibited (IPSP)

Only 1 tertiary neurone is stimulated large , others there is no AP

37
Q

What inhibits lateral neurones

A

Fibres from other receptive fields

38
Q

Where does neurone from grey matter carrying into to in STT

A

To ventral side then to thalamus then to somatosensory cortex

39
Q

Which area of somatosensory cortex is STT into in

A

Post central gyrus

40
Q

Where is the post central gyrus

A

Behind the central sulcus (middle parting)

41
Q

How is info laid out in the post central gyrus

A

Laid out depending on body part eg head on right and leg info on left

42
Q

What is post central gyrus mapping called

A

Somatotopic representation