Dermatomes

Question 1

Cervical

Answer 1

Neck and upper shoulders

Question 2

Thoracic

Answer 2

Upper and middle back (chest area)

Question 3

Lumbar

Answer 3

Lower back and upper/front legs

Question 4

Sacral

Answer 4

Pelvis, back of legs, feet and genital area

Question 5

Transverse section

Answer 5

Horizontal cut, parallel to the ground

Question 6

Cervical Transverse Section

Answer 6

Largest
Large, wide dorsal horns and ventral horns
Most abandant white matter: contains all ascending and descending tracts

Question 7

Thoracic Transverse Section

Answer 7

Smallest/Thinnest
Smallest amount of gray matter overall (cell bodies and dendrites)
Least abundant white matter

Question 8

Lumbar Transverse Section

Answer 8

Large (smaller than cervical)
Largest ventral horns

Question 9

Dorsal Horn

Answer 9

Responsible for sensations: Temperature, pain, touch…

Question 10

Ventral Horn

Answer 10

Primary function: Motor output and control

Question 11

Mechanoreceptive

Answer 11

A-beta afferent axons
Sensory function: Touch
Highly myelinated
Wide in diameter
Low resistance (small Cm)

Question 12

Thermo- and Nociceptive

Answer 12

A-delta afferent axons
Sensory function: Pain and temperature
Myelinated
Thin in axon diameter

C afferent axons
Sensory function: Pain, temperature and itch
Unmyelinated
Thinner in diameter

Question 13

DCML (Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus) Pathway

Answer 13

For fine touch, vibration and proprioception (perception/awareness of position and movement of the body)
Synapses
1. Dorsal Column Nuclei
2. Thalamus
3. Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Face/arms: Lateral from the midline
Leg: As close to the midline
Top (Dorsal)
Cervical Level: CTLS-SLTC
Thoracic Level: TLS-SLT
Lumbar Level: LS-SL

Question 14

STT (Spinothalamic/anterolateral Tract)

Answer 14

For pain, temperature
Synapses
1. Dorsal Horn
Decussate
2. Thalamus
3. Primary Somatosensory Cortex
Face/arms: Close to the midline
Leg; As lateral as possible
Bottom (Verntral)
Cervical Level: SLTC-CTLS
Thoracic Level: SLT-TLS
Lumbar Level: SL-LS