Anatomy
In which region of the brain is the somatosensory system located?
Parietal lobe
What are the 5 somatic sensations in the somatosensory process?
Pain, temperature, touch, position, and vibration
What types of receptors interpret pain and temperature signals?
Free nerve endings
What group of receptors are mechanoreceptors responsible for?
Touch and movement
Cell bodies of somatosensory neurons reside in ganglia found just outside of where?
The spinal cord
Where are somatic sensory signals processed?
Sensory processing center in the cerebrum or cerebellum
How does information get from the body to the brain?
The spinal cord
The exteroceptive branch detects what type of threats and drives reflexive-defensive reactions to prevent injury?
External threats
Somatosensory neurons have what courses throughout the skin, muscle, viscera, and bone that allow them to send signals to all parts of the body?
Nerve endings
Out of the main and secondary somatosensory areas, which one considered processed in parallel?
Second somatosensory
What other parts of the brain collaborate with the somatosensory system?
The cerebellum and the motor cortex
What are the two major classes of nociceptors (pain receptors)?
Thermal and polymodal
What three neurons does a somatosensory pathway typically contain?
Primary, secondary, and tertiary
In the somatosensory structure the neurons make up a spatial representation of the body and face. In much simpler words, what is this called?
Somatotopic map
What is the mapping of parts of the brain to specific body surfaces called?
The Somatosensory Homunculus
When you damage your skin, what type of response are you initiating?
Inflammatory response
What located in the parietal lobe is the location of the primary somatosensory area?
Postcentral gyrus
Overall, what is the somatosensory system made of?
A network of neurons that help humans recognize objects, textures, and generate sensory-motor feedback
What kind of stimulus does a root hair plexus interpret?
Fine touch
Hyperalgesia is an increased sensitivity to feeling pain and an extreme response to feeling pain. Why might hyperalgesia occur?
There is nerve damage or changes in the nerve pathway that involves sensing pain