Proprioception

Question 1

What is proprioception essential for?

Answer 1

Well timed and accurate movements

Question 2

Carried by conscious and unconscious pathways. Where do conscious pathways terminate?
Where do unconscious pathways terminate?

Answer 2

Conscious- Cerebrum- Parietal Lobe (somathestic cortex)

Unconscious- Cerebellum- unconscious control of posture and balance

Question 3

Is proprioception testable in a paralyzed animal?

Answer 3

NO

Question 4

What are 3 ways to test for proprioception problems?

Answer 4

1. While moving
2. Gait abnormalities (ataxia, dysmetria)
3. While standing

Question 5

Tracts for proprioception are located where in the spinal cord?

Answer 5

Peripherally and superficially

Question 6

With proprioceptive disorders, function is progressively lost. What is lost first?

Answer 6

Conscious proprioception

Question 7

What is the last function lost with proprioceptive disorders?

Answer 7

Deep Pain

Question 8

Trace the order of function loss in proprioceptive disorders and diseases by what is lost first.

Answer 8

1. Conscious proprioception
2. Voluntary motor function
3. Bladder function
4. Superficial pain
5. Deep pain

Question 9

What are the 2 conscious proprioception pathways?

Answer 9

1. DCML (Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus)

2. Trigeminal Pathway

Question 10

Where do the 2 conscious proprioception pathways terminate?

Answer 10

Parietal lobe of the somatosensory cortex

Question 11

Skin mechanoreceptors, joint receptors, muscle spindles, and golgi tendon organs are all components of which of the 2 conscious proprioception pathways?

Answer 11

DCML

Question 12

What do Golgi Tendon Organs do?

Answer 12

Detect tension in tendons

Question 13

Components of the DCML are innervated by what kind of neurons?

Answer 13

Primary sensory neurons

Question 14

The fasciculus cuneatus is responsible for DCML proprioception of which limbs?

Answer 14

Thoracic limbs

Question 15

The fasciculus gracilis is responsible for DCML proprioception of which limbs?

Answer 15

Pelvic limbs

Question 16

What are the pre-thalamic nuclei in the DCML system?

Answer 16

FC- fasciculus cuneatus AND

FG- fasciculus gracilis

Question 17

Pre-thalamic nucleii are also referred collectively as?

Answer 17

Dorsal column nucleii

Question 18

Proprioceptive info destined for the cortex travels _______ up the spinal cord through the FC and FG to the NC and NG (nucleus cuneatus and gracilis)

Answer 18

IPSILATERALLY

Question 19

Where do the fibers decussate in the DCML pathway?

Answer 19

Right after reaching the NC and NG

Question 20

What does the Trigeminal System Pathway do?

Answer 20

Conscious proprioception from FACE (CN5) to cortex

Question 21

All proprioceptive info from one side of the body reaches the ________ somatosensory cortex.

Answer 21

Contralateral! It decussates before reaching the contralateral nucleus of the thalamus

Question 22

What are some clinical signs associated with proprioceptive deficiencies?

Answer 22

Ataxia- abnormal gait
Knuckling- dragging toes
Fail CP tests (conscious proprioception tests)

Question 23

What are tests you can do for conscious proprioception (CP Tests)?

Answer 23

Proprioceptive Positioning
Wheelbarrow
Hopping
Hemistanding or Hemiwalking
Placing

Question 24

What are clinical signs of proprioceptive ataxia?

Answer 24

Abnormal postural rxns

Paresis

Question 25

Proprioception is vulnerable to injury. Why?

Answer 25

1. Large size of Axons

2. Location superficially on spinal cord