SOMATOSENSORY SYSTEM

OVERVIEW
the somatosensory system transmits and analyzes touch or tactile information from external and internal locations on the body and head. Somatic sensations can be subdivided into:
discriminative touch, flutter-vibration, proprioception (position sense), crude (nondiscriminative) touch, thermal (hot and cold) sensation, nociception (pain).

Pathways
1. the posterior column-medial lemniscal pathway, 2. the trigeminothalamic pathways, 3. the spinocerebellar pathways, 4. the anterolateral system.

Posterior Column-Medial Lemniscal System

involved with the perception and appreciation of mechanical stimuli: 1. texture discrimination, 2. form recognition of three-dimensional shape (stereognosis), 3. motion detection 4. conscious awareness of body position (proprioception) 5. limb movement (kinesthesia)

Peripheral Mechanoreceptors
The first step in evoking somatic sensations is the activation of peripheral mechanoreceptors. Mechanical pressure, such as skin deformation, is transduced into an electrical signal in the peripheral process of a primary afferent neuron .This leads to a depolarizing graded membrane potential across the membrane of the neuron. If this potential depolarizes the trigger zone, located at the first myelin segment of the axon, to threshold, an action potential is produced . In most receptors, transduction occurs between the mechanoreceptor and subjacent primary afferent membrane. In contrast, Merkel cells may influence their associated primary afferent axon by vesicular release of a transmitter substance.

Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, the student should be able to: 1. Describe the general organization of the sensory systems 2. List, diagram, and describe different components of sensory systems 3. Describe the classification of major sensory systems 4. Describe and diagram the receptors, anatomical pathways, and physiological functions associated with the following sensations:
Tactile sensations (touch, pressure, and vibration mediated by mechanoreceptors of the skin) Conscious proprioception (perception of joint position, joint movements, and direction and velocity of joint movements or kinesthesia) Nonconscious proprioception (sensations mediated by muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs) Pain Temperature

General Organization of Sensory Systems

Our knowledge of the environment around us depends on the information that we receive from peripheral receptors that are specialized nerve endings of sensory neurons. The major sensory systems include:
Somatic sensory system Visual system Auditory system Vestibular system Taste system Olfactory (smell) system.

The sensory neurons in each system project centrally, where they make synaptic contact with the second-order neurons that, in turn, project to higher order neurons.

Sensory Receptors
Initial contact with our environment occurs at the sensory receptors, which are specialized neural structures. The sensations experienced by the peripheral receptors include :
touch, position of the body, pain, sight, sound, smell, Taste.

Characteristics of the Stimulus

1. Modality : different forms of stimuli (e.g., mechanical, thermal, chemical, visual, and auditory) activate sensory receptors. 2. Intensity : the strength of the stimulus determines the intensity of sensation. The smallest intensity at which a particular sensation is detected is called the sensory threshold. 3. Duration : intensity of the sensation diminishes when the stimulus is continuous for an extended period of time. This is called adaptation. 4. Location :the ability of the subject to identify the site of stimulation and the ability to distinguish between stimuli that are applied at close distances (two-point discrimination)

Stimulus Transduction
The sensory receptor converts a stimulus into neural activity (stimulus transduction). A stimulus induces a generator (or receptor) potential in the receptor membrane. The stimulus depolarizes the membrane by opening channels, thus selectively permitting influx of Na+ and efflux of K+. Specific characteristics, such as intensity and duration, are converted into specific patterns of action potentials that are called neural codes.
an increase in the intensity of the stimulus elicits an increase in the magnitude of the receptor potential, which, in turn, produces an increased rate and number of action potentials. an increase in the duration of the stimulus usually decreases the amplitude of the generator (receptor) potential that, in turn, results in the adaptation of the response. The adaptation of the response may be rapid (e.g., Pacinian corpuscle) or slow (e.g., Merkel's receptor).

Tactile Sensations (Touch, Pressure, and Vibration)

1. Hair follicle 2. Meissner's Corpuscles 3. Merkel's Receptors (Merkel's Disks) 4. Pacinian Corpuscles 5. Ruffini's Corpuscles (Endings)

Proprioception
There are two types of proprioception:
1. conscious proprioception 2. Nonconscious proprioception

Conscious Proprioception
conscious awareness of kinesthesia (i.e., the joint position, direction, and velocity of joint movements). Receptor : free nerve endings in joint ligaments and capsules.

Pathways :
Ipsilateral Gracilis and Cuneatus fasciluli Gracilis and Crossing Cuneatus nuclei Contralateral Lateral Lemniscus

Sensory cortex

VPL Thalamus

DRG

Dorsal horn

Schematic diagram of the posterior column pathway

Schematic diagram of the spinal cord showing spatial arrangement of fibers in the posterior funiculus

Lesions in the Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus System

loss of kinesthetic sensation :
unable to identify the position of the limbs in space when the eyes are closed do not know if one of the joint is in flexion or extension.

cannot identify the shape, size, or texture of objects in their hands by means of touch (astereognosis)