Textbook Question
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
Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology26
- Ch. 2 The Chemistry of Life38
- Ch. 3 The Cell55
- Ch. 4 Histology47
- Ch. 5 The Integumentary System30
- Ch. 6 Bones and Bone Tissue36
- Ch. 7 The Skeletal System40
- Ch. 8 Articulations19
- Ch. 9 The Muscular System36
- Ch. 10 Muscle Tissue and Physiology29
- Ch. 11 Introduction to the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue28
- Ch. 12 The Central Nervous System42
- Ch. 13 The Peripheral Nervous System41
- Ch. 14 The Autonomic Nervous System and Homeostasis31
- Ch. 15 The Special Senses39
- Ch. 16 The Endocrine System42
- Ch. 17 The Cardiovascular System I: The Heart30
- Ch. 18 The Cardiovascular System II: The Blood Vessels43
- Ch. 19 Blood32
- Ch. 20 The Lymphatic System and Immunity45
- Ch. 21 The Respiratory System27
- Ch. 22 The Digestive System27
- Ch. 23 Metabolism and Nutrition7
- Ch. 24 The Urinary System39
- Ch. 25 Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Homeostasis39
- Ch. 26 The Reproductive System10
- Ch. 27 Development and Heredity5
Chapter 13, Problem 14
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).
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Begin by analyzing each statement individually to determine its accuracy based on your knowledge of the nervous system and sensory pathways.
Step 2: Review the anatomy and function of the spinothalamic tracts, which are part of the anterolateral system. Confirm that they carry pain, temperature, and crude touch stimuli to the brain.
Step 3: Examine the role of descending pathways from the brain and spinal cord. Understand how these pathways can modulate pain perception by inhibiting or altering signals in the spinal cord.
Step 4: Investigate the function of the thalamus as the 'gateway' for sensory stimuli to the cerebral cortex. Note that the thalamus processes all sensory information except olfaction (smell), not audition (hearing).
Step 5: Identify the false statement by comparing the information in the problem with the correct anatomical and physiological facts. The false statement is the one that contradicts established knowledge.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Anterolateral System
The anterolateral system is a neural pathway in the central nervous system that transmits pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations from the body to the brain. It includes the spinothalamic tracts, which carry these sensory modalities to the thalamus and then to the sensory cortex. Understanding this system is crucial for analyzing how the body perceives and processes pain and temperature stimuli.
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Spinothalamic Tracts
The spinothalamic tracts are specific pathways within the anterolateral system that convey sensory information about pain and temperature. These tracts originate in the spinal cord and ascend to the thalamus, where they synapse before projecting to the cerebral cortex. Recognizing the role of these tracts helps clarify the mechanisms of sensory transmission and the body's response to harmful stimuli.
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Thalamus as a Sensory Gateway
The thalamus acts as a critical relay station for sensory information, directing signals from various sensory modalities to the appropriate areas of the cerebral cortex. It processes and integrates sensory data, except for olfactory signals, which bypass the thalamus. Understanding the thalamus's function is essential for grasping how sensory information is organized and perceived in the brain.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
______detect the degree to which a muscle is stretched, whereas______detect the force of a muscle contraction.
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Textbook Question
Which parts of the body have the greatest amount of space dedicated to them in the primary somatosensory cortex? Why?
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Textbook Question
The tracts of the posterior columns decussate in the ________, whereas the tracts of the anterolateral system decussate in the ________.
Textbook Question
The cell bodies of upper motor neurons reside in the ________ and function to ________, whereas the cell bodies of lower motor neurons reside in the ________ and function to ________.
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Textbook Question
List and describe the basic steps involved in producing movement, beginning with the upper motor neurons in the cerebral cortex.
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