ANATOMICAL &

NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL
ASPECTS OF SOMATIC SENSE
Updated lecture September,2007
September,2007

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Abdul Azeem

Department of Physiology, Ummal Qura University
azenmu@gmail.com
 Somatic Sense

Originates from the receptors classified as:

n Exteroreceptors (body surface)

n Proprioceptors (joints and muscles)

n Visceral receptors

n Deep sensations

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 2
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Sensory Pathways
1. Dorsal Leminiscal
2. Anteriolateral

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 3
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 CROSS SECTION OF SPINAL CORD, SHOWING
LOCATION OF ASCENDING SENSORY PATHWAYS.
NOTE THAT EACH IS LAMINATED. S=SACRAL,
L=LUMBAR, T=THORACIC, C=CERVICAL
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 4
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 The dorsal column and spino-cervical pathways for
transmitting critical types of tactile signals.
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 5
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
Projection of
the dorsal
column--medial
column
lemniscal
system through
the thalamus to
the somato-
somato-
sensory cortex.
(Modified from Brodal A: Neurological Anatomy in Relation to
Clinical Medicine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1969
1969,, by
permission of Oxford University Press.)

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 6
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
ANTEROLATERAL
PATHWAY

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 7
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Cross section of spinal cord, showing gray matter
and ascending sensory tracts in its white columns.

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 8
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 SEQUENCE IN SENSORY TRANSMISSION
1. Stimulation of sensory receptor by sensory modality like
Touch, pressure, pain, cold, vibration etc.
2. Generation of Receptor potential
3. Generation and propagation of Action potential in sensory
axon
4. Sensory nerve carries sensory signal towards spinal cord
through dorsal root ganglion
5. Spinal cord carries sensory signal through in dorsal &
anterolateral pathways, crossed & uncrossed tracts
6. Processing in brain stem for equilibrium and position
sense
7. Thalamus receive and relay sensory signals through its
nuclei towards sensory cortex
8. Termination of sensory signal in Primary & Secondary
sensory cortices of cerebral cortex
9. Perception of sense & distribution of signals in cerebral
lobes
10. Initiation of motor signals from motor cortex in cerebrum.
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 9
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 How Sensory
nerves arise
from
Receptors and
converge on a
single large
Myelinated
Nerve

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 10
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Dorsal Column-
Column-Medial Anterolateral System
Lemniscal System
1. Touch sensations requiring a 1. Pain
high degree of localization of 2. Thermal sensations, including
the stimulus & Transmission both warm and cold
of fine gradation of intensity. sensations..
sensations
2. Phasic sensations, such as 3. Crude touch and pressure
vibratory sensations sensations capable of only
3. Sensations that signal crude localizing ability on the
movement against the skin surface of the body
body..
4. Position sensations 4. Tickle and itch sensation
5. Pressure sensations having to 5. Sexual sensations
do with fine degrees of
judgment of pressure
intensity

10
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 11
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
10/19/2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 12
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
10
10//19
19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 13
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Sensory Cortex

ASCENDING TRACTS 3rd Order

Neuron Thalamus

n Sensory or Afferent Tracts:

Tracts:
n From periphery to the centre, there are three
orders of neurons for sensory transmission
through ascending or sensory tracts. 2 Order nd

Neuron
n These tracts are usually recognized with
respect to their origin, crossing or no crossing
in spinal column or medulla, termination and
their function.
Spinal cord
1st Order
Neuron
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 14
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Ascending Tracts Cont….
I. Afferent Tracts in the posterior
Column (Funiculus):
1. Fasciculus gracilis (Tract of Goll)

2. Fasciculus cuneatus (Tract of

Burdach)
3. Common tract of Schultze (Tractus
interfascicularis)

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 15
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Ascending Tracts Cont…..
2. Afferent Tracts in the lateral column (Funiculus):
– Dorsal spinothalamic tract (Lateral
spinothalamic tract).
– Spinotectal tract.
– Flechsig's tract (Direct or dorsal [posterior]
spinocerebellar tract).
– Gower's tract (Indirect or ventral [anterior]
spinocerebellar tract)
– Spino--olivary tract
Spino
– Spinoreticular tract
– Spinovestibular tract
– Spinocortical tract
– Spinopontine tract
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 16
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
Ascending Tracts Cont……
3. Afferent Tracts in the Anterior Column
(Funiculus)
– Ventral (anterior) spinothalamic tract

10
10//19
19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 17
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
10
10//19
19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 18
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
10
10//19
19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 19
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Two somatosensory cortical areas
somatosensory areas I and II.

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 20
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
REPRESENTATION
OF BODY PARTS IN
SOMESTHETIC
CORTEX OF
CEREBRUM

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 21
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
NEURONAL
LAYERS
IN
CEREBRAL
CORTEX

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 22
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
DIVERGENCE
OF
SENSORY
SIGNALS
IN
TRANS-
MISSION
TOWARDS
SENSORY
CORTEX

10
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 23
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
10
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 24
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
POWER LAW

Actual Stimulus
Strength

Vs

Strength
Interpreted by
Psyche

Interpreted Stimulus Strength= K *(Stimulus-k)y

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 25
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
Association
Of
Neuronal
Firing
With
Knee
Joint
Movement
Important
For Position
Sense

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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 26
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com
 Representation
Of
Sensory
Nerves
Innervation
In
Respective
Areas
Of
Skin
Called
Dermatome

10
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19//2008 Prof. Dr.Muhammad Abdul Azeem, 27
Deptt. Physiology, UQU, Meccah,
azenmu@gmail.com