SENSORY TRACTS

Dr Raghuveer Choudhary
Associate Professor
Dept. of Physiology
Dr S.N.Medical College ,Jodhpur
 Sensory tracts
 A) All spinothalamic sensations carried by A
delta and C. nerve fibres.

 B) All dorsal column sensations carried by A

beta.
Sensation from receptor to Brain
Sensory Tracts
(A) THE ANTERO-LATERAL SYSTEM

 1.
1.ItItconsists
consistsofofA-delta
A-deltanerve
nervefibres
fibres(mainly)
(mainly)and
andalso
alsoCC
nerve
nervefibres.
fibres.

 2.
2.ItIttransmits
transmitsaawide
widevariety
varietyof
ofsensations
sensations

 3.
3.ItIthas
hasaalow
lowdegree
degreeof
oflamination.
lamination.

 4.Poor
4.Poor(a)
(a)localization
localizationof
ofsensations
sensations(b)
(b)discrimination
discriminationofof
their
theirintensity
intensity(c)
(c)transport
transportof
ofrapidly
rapidlyrepetitive
repetitivesignals.
signals.

 5.Conduction
5.Conductionof
ofsignals
signalsfrom
fromthe
theopposite
oppositeside.
side.
 Spinothalamic
SpinothalamicTract
Tract

 Modality:
Modality: Pain
Pain&
&Temperature
TemperatureSensation,
Sensation,Light
LightTouch
Touch
 Receptor:
Receptor:Free
FreeNerve
NerveEnding
Ending
 Ist
Ist Neuron:
Neuron: Dorsal
DorsalRoot
RootGanglion
Ganglion(Spinal
(SpinalGanglion)
Ganglion)
 Posterior
PosteriorRoot
Root
 2nd
2ndNeuron:
Neuron: Dorsal
DorsalHorn
Horn (Lamina
(LaminaIV,
IV,V,
V,VI)
VI)
 Spinothalamic
SpinothalamicTract
Tract--(Spinal
(SpinalLemniscus)
Lemniscus)
 3rd
3rd Neuron:
Neuron: Thalamus
Thalamus(VPLc,
(VPLc,CL
CL&&POm)
POm)
 Internal
InternalCapsule
Capsule-----
-----Corona
CoronaRadiata
Radiata
 Termination:
Termination: Primary
PrimarySomesthetic
SomestheticArea
Area(S(SI)I)&
&
 Diffuse
DiffuseWidespread
WidespreadCortical
CorticalRegion
Region
The
Theventral
ventral(anterior
(anterior) )spinothalamic
spinothalamictract
tract

 This
This tract
tract transmits
transmits crude
crude touch
touch and
and pressure
pressure
as
as well
well asas tickle
tickle and
and itch
itch sensations.
sensations. ItsIts
pathway
pathway consists
consists ofof 33 neurons;
neurons;
 First
First order
order neurons
neurons
 These
These are
are A-delta
A-delta andand CC afferent
afferent nerve
nerve fibres.
fibres.
They
They enter
enter the
the spinal
spinal cord
cord via
via
 the
the dorsal
dorsal roots,
roots, ascend
ascend oror descend
descend aa few
few
segments
segments in in the
the Lissauer's
Lissauer's tract,
tract, then
then
terminate
terminate at at the
the main
main sensory
sensory nucleus
nucleus in in
dorsal
dorsal horn.
horn.
The ventral (anterior ) spinothalamic tract


 Second order neurons
Second order neurons

 These
Theseconstitute
constitutethe
thetract.
tract.They
Theystart
startininthe
the
dorsal
dorsalhorn,
horn,cross
crosstotothe
theopposite
oppositeside,
side,

 ascend in the anterior column of spinal cord,
ascend in the anterior column of spinal cord,
and
andterminate
terminateatatthe
theventral
ventralposterolateral
posterolateral
nucleus.
nucleus.
The ventral (anterior ) spinothalamic tract

 Third order neurons

 These start: in the thalamus, pass in the
sensory (thalamic) radiation (in the
 posterior limb of internal capsule) and
terminate at the cortical sensory areas in the
postcentral gyrus.
 Lateral Spinothalamic Tract

 This
This tract
tract transmits
transmits pain
pain and
and thermal
thermal
sensations.
sensations.
 ItIt includes
includes 22 separate
separate pathways;
pathways;
 A)A) paleospinothalamic
paleospinothalamic pathway
pathway
 B)
B) Neospinothalamic
Neospinothalamic pathway
pathway
 a) paleospinothalamic pathway
 This
This transports
transports slowslow pain
pain sensation
sensation as as well
well as
as
thermoreceptive
thermoreceptive sensations
sensations
 specially
specially heat,
heat, and
and itit consists
consists of of the
the following
following
33 neurons;
neurons;
 ♣♣ First
First order
order neurons
neurons ::
 These
These areare mainly
mainly CC afferent
afferent nerve
nerve fibres.
fibres. They
They
enter
enter the
the spinal
spinal cord
cord via
via thethe dorsal
dorsal
 roots,
roots, then
then terminate
terminate at at the
the substantia
substantia
gelatinosa
gelatinosa of of Rolandi
Rolandi (SGR)(SGR) in in
 laminae
laminae II II &
& Ill
Ill of
of the
the dorsal
dorsal horn.
horn.
 a)
a) paleospinothalamic
paleospinothalamic pathway
pathway
 ☻ Second order neurons :
 These constitute the tract. They start: at the
SGR, cross to the opposite side
 close to the central canal, ascend in the lateral
column of the spinal cord and
 terminate at (a) the periaqueductal gray area
(PAG) (b) the reticular formation
 (c) the nonspecific thalamic nuclei.
 a) paleospinothalamic pathway
 ♥♥ Third
Third order
order neurons
neurons ::
 These
These start
start atat the
the thalamus
thalamus and
and project
project to
to
almost
almost all
all parts
parts of of the
the cerebral
cerebral
 cortex
cortex (via
(via the
the internal
internal capsule).
capsule). However,
However,
they
they are
are not
not essential
essential for
for perception
perception of
of the
the
transported
transported sensations
sensations butbut are
are essential
essential for
for
arousal
arousal ofof the
the nervous
nervous system.
system.
 B)
B) Neospinothalamic
Neospinothalamic pathway
pathway
 This
This transports
transports fast
fast pain
pain as
as well
well as
as
thermoreceptive
thermoreceptive sensations
sensations specially
specially cold,
cold,
 and
and itit consists
consists of
of the
the following
following 33 neurons:
neurons:
 ۞۞ First
First order
order neurons
neurons
 These
These are are mainly
mainly A-delta
A-delta afferent
afferent nerve
nerve
fibres.
fibres. terminate
terminate atat laminae
laminae 11 &
&V V of
of
 the
the dorsal
dorsal horn
horn
 B) Neospinothalamic pathway
 Second order neurons
 These constitute the tract. They start at the
dorsal horns, cross to the opposite
 side and ascend in the lateral column of the
spinal cord. Finally terminate at
 the thalamic VpLN
 ۞ Third order neurons
 These are similar to ventral spinothalamic
tract.
 NeoSTT
NeoSTT PaleoSTT
PaleoSTT
 Primary
PrimaryMotor
Motor Widespread
Widespread
Area
Area(M
(MI)I) cortical
corticalregion
region

Thalamus
 VPLc
VPLc(ventrobasal
(ventrobasal CL
CL(intralaminar
(intralaminar
nuclear
nuclearcomplex)
complex) thalamic
thalamicnuclei)
nuclei)

(spinal
(spinallemniscus)
lemniscus) reticulothalamic
reticulothalamic
pathways
pathways Reticalar
formation
 spinothalamic
spinothalamic spinoreticular
spinoreticular
tract
tract tract
tract
 Spinothalamic
SpinothalamicTract
Tract
(Neospinothalamic
(NeospinothalamicTract)
Tract)
 Spinoreticular
SpinoreticularTract
Tract
(Paleospinothalamic
(PaleospinothalamicTrac
Trac
 DRG:
DRG:Dorsal
DorsalRoot
RootGanglion
Ganglion
 A.
A.Posterior
Posterior(dorsal)
(dorsal)horn
horn
 1.
1.Spinothalamic
Spinothalamictract
tract
 B.
B.Reticular
Reticularformation
formation
 2.
2.Spinoreticular
Spinoreticulartract
tract
 C.
C.Thalamus
Thalamus(VPLc,
(VPLc,CL)
CL)
 3.
3.Corona
CoronaRadiata
Radiata
 D.
D.Cerebral
CerebralCortex
Cortex(S
(SI)I)
 B) THE DORSAL COLUMN
LEMNISCAL SYSTEM
 It is characterized by the following :
 1. It consists mainly of A-beta fibres.
 2. It transmits limited (but: fine) sensations.
 3. it has a high degree of lamination.
 4. Fine (a) localization of sensations (b)
discrimination of their intensity
 (c) high ability to transport rapidly-repetitive
signals.
 5. Conduction of signals mainly from the same
side.
 Gracile
Gracile and
and Cuneate
Cuneate tracts
tracts
 These
These tracts
tracts transport:
transport:
 (1)
(1) Fine
Fine tactile
tactile sensations
sensations (tactile
(tactile localization
localization
&& discrimination).
discrimination).
 (2)
(2) Stereognosis
Stereognosis and and texture
texture of
of material
material
sensation.
sensation.
 (3)
(3) Fine
Fine pressure
pressure andand muscle
muscle tension
tension
sensations.
sensations.
 (4)
(4) Vibration
Vibration sense.
sense.
 (5)
(5) Proprioceptive
Proprioceptive and and kinesthetic
kinesthetic sensations.
sensations.
 (6)
(6) Some
Some crude
crude touch
touch and
and pressure.
pressure.
 The
The pathway
pathway of of the
the gracile
gracile and
and cuneate
cuneate tracts
tracts
consists
consists of of the
the following
following 33 neurons:
neurons:
 ®® First
First order
order neurons
neurons
 These
These areare mostly
mostly A-beta
A-beta afferent
afferent nerve
nerve fibres.
fibres.
As
As They
They enter
enter the
the spinal
spinal cord,
cord, they
they
 immediately
immediately turn turn upwards
upwards in in the
the ipsilateral
ipsilateral
dorsal
dorsal column
column and and ascend
ascend without
without
 relay
relay asas the
the gracile
gracile and
and cuneate
cuneate tracts
tracts till
till relay
relay
at:
at: the
the gracile
gracile and
and cuneate
cuneate nuclei
nuclei inin the
the
medulla
medulla oblongata
oblongata
Sensort Tracts
 Somatosensory Pathways

Crossover at Spinal Cord Crossover in Medulla

Pain and Temperature Discriminative Touch
Tickle and Itch Shape, Size Texture, Weight
Poorly localised touch Vibration
Proprioception
 Spinal Cord Ascending Tracts
 Posterior
PosteriorWhite
WhiteColumn-Medial
Column-MedialLemniscal
LemniscalPathway
Pathway

Modality:
Modality: Discriminative
DiscriminativeTouch
TouchSensation
Sensation(include
(includeVibration)
Vibration)and
and
Conscious
ConsciousProprioception
Proprioception(Position
(PositionSensation,
Sensation,Kinesthesia)
Kinesthesia)
Receptor:
Receptor: Most
Mostreceptors
receptorsexcept
exceptfree
freenerve
nerveendings
endings

Ist
Ist Neuron:
Neuron:Dorsal
DorsalRoot
RootGanglion
Ganglion(Spinal
(SpinalGanglion)
Ganglion)
Posterior
PosteriorRoot
Root--Posterior
PosteriorWhite
WhiteColumn
Column
2nd
2ndNeuron:
Neuron:Dorsal
DorsalColumn
ColumnNuclei
Nuclei(Nucleus
(NucleusGracilis
GracilisetetCuneatus)
Cuneatus)
Internal
InternalArcuate
ArcuateFiber
Fiber--Lemniscal
LemniscalDecussation
Decussation
-- Medial
MedialLemniscus
Lemniscus
3rd
3rd Neuron:
Neuron:Thalamus
Thalamus(VPLc)
(VPLc)
Internal
InternalCapsule
Capsule-----
-----Corona
CoronaRadiata
Radiata
Termination:
Termination:Primary
PrimarySomesthetic
SomestheticArea
Area(S
(SI)I)
 Posterior White Column -
Medial Lemniscal Pathway
 medial
medial lemniscus
lemniscus
lemniscal
lemniscal decussation
decussation
internal
internal arcuate
arcuate fiber
fiber
posterior
posterior white
white column
column
posterior
posterior root
root
 ipsilateral loss of
ipsilateral loss of
discriminative
discriminative touch
touch
sensation
sensation andand conscious
conscious
proprioception
proprioception below below the
the
level
level of
of lesion
lesion
 Dorsal colum Anterolateral colum
 Sensations
Sensations FineFinetouch
touchand
andpress
press Crude touch & Pressure, Pain ,Tickling
ure
ureVibration
Vibrationsense
sensePosition
Positionsense
sense Temperature Sexual sensation,
 Afferents
Afferents AAbetabeta A delta and C
 Spinal
Spinalcord
cord Gracile
Gracile& &cuneate
cuneatetrac
trac Lateral Spino thalamic tr .
ts.
ts. Ventral spino thalamic tr .
 Crossing
Crossing Brain
Brainstem
stem Spinal cord
 Brain
Brainstem
stem Medial
Medialleminiscus
leminiscus Spinal leminiscus
 Perception
Perception Mainly
Mainlyin incortex
cortex Mainly in thalamus.
 Spatial
Spatial(space)
(space) High
Highdegree
degree Low degree i.e poorly localized
 Characters
Charactersof ofTransmission
Transmission
 Discr
Discrete
etelocalization
localization Poor localization
 Activation
Activationof of whole cortex & few fibers go
 Cortex
CortexSpecific
Specificareas
areas to specific area I & II
 Lesion-
Lesion-In Inthe
thesp.
sp.cd.
cd. Lost
Loston
onthe
the Lost on the opposite side
same
sameside
side
 Decortication
Decortication Severely
Severelyaffected
affected, , Slightly affected & rapid
no
norecovery
recovery recovery
 Spinothalamic Tract

 -- contralateral
contralateral loss
loss of
of
pain
pain and
and
temperature
temperature
sensation
sensation below
below the
the
level
level of
of lesion
lesion
 Posterior White Column -
Medial Lemniscal Pathway

-- ipsilateral
ipsilateral loss
loss of
of
discriminative
discriminative touch
touch
sensation
sensation andand conscious
conscious
proprioception
proprioception belowbelow the
the
level
level of
of lesion
lesion
 Somatosensory Cortex

Area on Somatosensory Cortex Related to Degree of

Innervation
Cortical Mapping of Somatosensation
•Post-Central Gyrus
• Site of Primary Somatosensory
Cortex
•Body Parts Dis-proportionally Mapped in
Primary Cortex
•Area of Cortex
• Proportional to Sensitivityof Body
Region
 Somatosensory cortex
 Primary Somatosensory Cortex (SI) Postcentral
Gyrus
 somatotopic
 More Sensitive, More Cortex
 Input Largely Contralateral
 SII
 Mainly Input from SI
 Somatotopic, Input from Both Sides of Body
 Much of Output from SI & SII goes to Association
Cortex in Posterior Parietal Lobe
Secondary & Association
Somatosensory Cortex
•Secondary Somatosensory Cortex
• Bilateral Info
•Damage
• Usually Very Mild Effects
•Asterognosia
• Inability to Recognize Objects
by Touch
•Asomatognosia
• Failure to Recognize Parts of
One’s Own Body
•Parietal lobe = Association Cortex
•Apraxia
• Difficulty Making Specific
Movements when Requested to Do
So
•Contralateral Neglect
• Inability to Respond to Stimuli on
One Side of Body Opposite Lesion
(Usually to Stimuli on Left???)
 Plasticity in Somatosensory Maps

Loss of Input or
Sensory Experience
→ Alter
Somatosensory
Mapping in Cortex