Dorsal Column

Question 1

Where does the Dorsal Column pathway decussate?

Answer 1

Medial Lemniscus in the medulla

Question 2

When does the 3 order neurons start and finish?

Answer 2

1. Dorsal root ganglia –> caudal medulla
2. Nucleus Gracilsis/ Cunnateous –> Thalamus
3. Contralateral Ventral Posterolateral (VPL) nucleus of the thalamus –> Postcentral gyrus and Lateral parietal cortex

Question 3

What receptors are for touch sensory?

Answer 3

Pacinian corpuscles - Mechanoreceptor

Meissner corpuscles - Mechanoreceptor

Ruffini endings & Merkel endings

Question 4

Is this a conscious or unconscious pathway?

Answer 4

Conscious because its end point is the cerebral cortex

Question 5

Is the Dorsal Column pathway sensory or motor?

Answer 5

Ascending Sensory Pathway

Question 6

What is the name of the two nuclei for the Dorsal Colum?

Answer 6

Cuneatus nucleus & Gracile nucleus

Question 7

What are the two parts of the Dorsal Column pathway?

Answer 7

Fasciculus Gracilis - Foot

Fasciculus Cuneatus - Hand

Question 8

What region of the spine does the lower neuron enter?

Answer 8

T6 - S5

Question 9

What type of sensory information does it collect?

Answer 9

1. Proprioception - where the body is
2. Vibration
3. Pressure
4. Fine touch
5. Two-point discrimination

Question 10

What region of the spine does the upper neuron enter?

Answer 10

C1 - T5

Question 11

What sort of fibres do you get in the Dorsal column pathway?

Answer 11

A-Beta fibre

Question 12

Which fibres run more medially in the spinal cord?

Answer 12

Gracilsis fasciculus