somatosensory function

Question 1

what is two point discrimination

Answer 1

minimum distance at which 2 points are perceived as separate

Question 2

what is two point discrimination related to

Answer 2

size of receptive field

Question 3

somatosensory dermatomes significance

Answer 3

each spinal nerve has specific dermatome on skin, providing mapping system to localise level of sensory innervation perceived on body

Question 4

somatosensory dermatomes: C5, C6, T4, T10

Answer 4

C5 clavical, C6 down thumb and index finger, T4 at nipples, T10 at umbilicus

Question 5

what does lateral inhibition do

Answer 5

prevents overlap of receptive fields, allowing pinpoint accuracy of localisation of stimulus

Question 6

what mediates lateral inhibition and how

Answer 6

inhibitory interneurones within dorsal horn of spinal cord (facilitates enhanced sensory perception (discrimination) due to inhibitory action on adjacent overlapping receptove fields)