13. The Peripheral Nervous System

How does the strength of a sensory stimulus affect the generator potential in sensory receptors?

Spatial discrimination is the ability to distinguish between and precisely identify two or more stimuli. In terms of touch, which of these body parts do you think would have the lowest degree of spatial discrimination?

Mark the following statements about the spinal cord as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

e. The corticospinal tracts are the main sensory tracts in the spinal cord.

Fill in the blanks: The tracts of the posterior columns decussate in the_____, whereas the tracts of the anterolateral system decussate in the _____.

Which of the following statements is false?

a. The spinothalamic tracts are part of the anterolateral system.

b. Pain, temperature, and crude touch stimuli are carried by the anterolateral system.

c. Descending pathways from the brain and spinal cord can make the spinal cord less receptive to pain stimuli.

d. The thalamus serves as the 'gateway' for entry of all special sensory stimuli into the cerebral cortex, with the exception of audition (hearing).

Label the following components of the corticospinal tracts with numbers 1 through 6, with 1 being the origin of the tracts and 6 their destination.     

_____Medullary pyramids where most fibers decussate.     

_____Anterior horn of the spinal gray matter.     

_____Midbrain and pons.      

_____Upper motor neurons in the primary motor and premotor cortices.     

_____Corona radiata and internal capsule.        

_____Lateral funiculus of the spinal cord.

Which of the following somatic sensations is not carried by the posterior columns?

a. Tactile senses

b. Temperature

c. Proprioception

d. Stretch

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

a. The somatic sensory division of the PNS detects sensory stimuli from the organs in the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

b. The somatic motor division of the PNS consists of lower motor neurons that directly innervate skeletal muscle fibers.

Why is visceral pain often perceived as cutaneous pain?

How do upper and lower motor neurons differ?

List and describe the basic steps involved in producing movement, beginning with the upper motor neurons in the cerebral cortex.

The lower motor neurons that innervate contractile skeletal muscle fibers are called:

a. α-motor neurons.

b. β-motor neurons.

c. upper motor neurons.

d. γ-motor neurons.

Explain why you lose both motor and sensory function of a part of your body when a spinal nerve is numbed with anesthetic agents.

When Mr. Williams goes to the emergency department with pain in the area along the midline of the diaphragm, he worries he is having a heart attack. Could the pain be related to his heart? Could it be related to any other organ(s)? Explain.