Chapter 15: Sensory and Motor Pathways

These flashcards cover key concepts of sensory and motor pathways in the nervous system, including the different types of receptors, pathways, and their functions.

Spinothalamic Pathway

Somatic sensory pathway that relays crude touch, pressure, pain, and temperature sensations to the central nervous system.

Phantom Limb Syndrome

Painful sensations perceived in a missing limb due to intact developmental neural pathways.

Posterior Column Pathway

Somatic sensory pathway responsible for conveying fine touch, vibration, pressure, and proprioception to the central nervous system.

Spinocerebellar Pathway

Sensory pathway that transmits proprioceptive information to the cerebellum without involving the thalamus.

Pyramidal Cells

Motor neurons in the primary motor cortex that control voluntary movements.

Upper Motor Neuron

Neuron whose cell body lies in the central nervous system and communicates with lower motor neurons.

Lower Motor Neuron

Neuron that resides in the spinal cord or brain stem and innervates skeletal muscles.

Corticospinal Pathway

Motor pathway from the primary motor cortex that controls skeletal muscle movements.

Medial Pathway

Motor pathway that controls gross motor movements and muscle tone of trunk and proximal limb muscles.

Lateral Pathway

Motor pathway that controls precise movements of distal parts of the limbs.

Referred Pain

Pain perceived at a location other than the site of the stimulus.

Transduction

The process of converting an arriving stimulus into an action potential by a sensory receptor.

Tonic Receptors

Sensory receptors that are always active and adapt slowly to changes.

Phasic Receptors

Sensory receptors that become active only when a change occurs and adapt quickly to stimuli.

Nociceptors

Pain receptors that can be activated by various stimuli such as temperature changes and pressure.

Thermoreceptors

Sensory receptors that detect temperature changes in the environment.

Mechanoreceptors

Receptors that respond to mechanical pressure or distortion.

Baroreceptors

Mechanoreceptors that monitor pressure changes in organs.

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors that provide information about body position and movement.

Golgi Tendon Organs

Proprioceptors that monitor tension in muscles.

Muscle Spindles

Proprioceptors that detect stretch in muscles.

Tactile Receptors

Mechanoreceptors responsible for the sensation of touch.

Visceral Pain Sensations

Pain sensations originating from internal organs, often misinterpreted as superficial pain.

Adaptation

The process by which sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli.

Receptive Field

The area monitored by a single receptor, influencing stimulus localization.