Sensory Pathways and the Somatic Nervous System

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on sensory pathways and the somatic nervous system, including the roles and types of receptors, sensory pathways, and motor control mechanisms.

What does the afferent division of the nervous system do?

Carries sensory information to the CNS.

What is the role of the somatic nervous system (SNS)?

Provides voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

What type of receptors are specialized cells that monitor specific conditions?

Sensory receptors.

What are the general senses?

Temperature, pain, touch, pressure, vibration, proprioception.

What are the special senses provided by sense organs?

Olfaction, gustation, vision, equilibrium, hearing.

What is the receptive field?

The area monitored by a single receptor cell.

What are tonic receptors?

Receptors that are always active and respond to changes in stimulation.

What is adaptation in sensory receptors?

The reduction of receptor sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus.

What are exteroceptors?

Receptors that provide information about the external environment.

Name one type of nociceptors.

Detect pain.

What does the spinothalamic pathway carry sensations of?

Crude touch, pressure, pain, and temperature.

What does a sensory homunculus represent?

The functional mapping of the somatosensory cortex.

What is the function of the spinocerebellar pathway?

Carries information about the positions of muscles, tendons, and joints without reaching awareness.

How many motor neurons are involved in somatic motor pathways?

At least 2 motor neurons.

What does the corticospinal pathway control?

Voluntary control over skeletal muscles.

What is the function of the medial pathway?

Controls muscle tone and gross movements of the trunk and proximal limb muscles.