Sensory Pathways and Proprioception

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to sensory pathways, proprioception, and sensory receptors.

Chronic Pain

Occurs after a second or so, then gradually increases in intensity; characterized as burning, throbbing, and slow pain.

Proprioceptive Sensations

Sensations conveyed from receptors located in muscle, tendons, joints, and internal ear, providing information for muscle tone, movement, and body position.

Muscle Spindles

Receptors that measure muscle length and participate in the stretch reflex to prevent overstretching.

Tendon Organs

Located in the junction of tendons and muscles, protecting tendons from damage due to excessive tension.

Joint Kinesthetic Receptors

Receptors that respond to the acceleration and deceleration of joints during movement, adjusting adjacent muscles to reduce strain.

Sensory Pathways

Nerve pathways that carry sensory impulses to the brain, leading to complex motor reactions.

Posterior Column-Medial Lemniscus Pathway

A sensory pathway that transmits fine touch, pressure, and proprioception to the cortex.

Anterolateral Pathways

Sensory pathways primarily responsible for transmitting pain, temperature, tickle, itch, and crude touch.

Trigeminothalamic Pathway

A pathway for sensory impulses from the face, nasal cavity, and oral cavity to the thalamus.

Spinocerebellar Tracts

Pathways that convey subconscious muscle and joint sense to the cerebellum for balance and coordination.

Somatic Motor Pathways

Pathways that directly connect the cortex to muscles, involving upper and lower motor neurons.

Upper Motor Neurons

Neurons originating in the central nervous system that control lower motor neurons.

Lower Motor Neurons

Neurons whose cell bodies are in the brain or spinal cord and extend axons to skeletal muscles.

Direct (Pyramidal) Motor Pathways

Motor pathways originating in the precentral gyrus, controlling voluntary movement of skeletal muscles.

Adaptation of Sensory Receptors

The ability of receptors to change sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors located in nearly every body tissue, responsible for the perception of pain.

Somatic Pain

Pain originating from the skin or muscles, easily localized.

Visceral Pain

Pain originating from the internal organs, often difficult to localize.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived in a surface area remote from the actual point of origin.

Phantom Pain

Perception of pain originating from an amputated limb.