What is the differences between a DCML and anterolateral pathway?
The key difference between anterolateral system and dorsal column system is that anterolateral system carries the sensory modalities of crude touch, pain and temperature while dorsal column system carries the sensory modalities of fine touch, vibration and proprioception.
Is anterolateral the same as Spinothalamic?
The spinothalamic tract is a part of the anterolateral system or the ventrolateral system, a sensory pathway to the thalamus. From the ventral posterolateral nucleus in the thalamus, sensory information is relayed upward to the somatosensory cortex of the postcentral gyrus.
What is the DCML?
The dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway (DCML) is a sensory pathway of the central nervous system. It conveys sensation of fine touch, vibration, pressure, two-point discrimination and proprioception (position) from the skin and joints.
Where does DCML synapse?
The dorsal column medial lemniscal (DCML) pathway, as its name implies, carries signals upward to the medulla of the brain. Then after the signals synapse, they cross to the opposite side of the brain in the medulla and continue upward through the brain stem to the thalamus by way of the medial lemniscus.
Where does DCML Decussate?
The medial lemniscus (second-order neuron of DCML) commences at the nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus at the caudal medulla; the arcuate fibers decussate at the caudal medulla and ascend via the medial lemniscus contralaterally in the brainstem until synapsing at the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus.
Is the spinothalamic tract ascending or descending?
The spinothalamic tract is an ascending pathway of the spinal cord. Together with the medial lemnicus, it is one of the most important sensory pathways of the nervous system. It is responsible for the transmission of pain, temperature, and crude touch to the somatosensory region of the thalamus.
Where does the Dcml pathway decussate?
What are lesions of the spinothalamic tract?
Lesions of the Spinothalamic tract. We can contrast the spinothalamic tract with the dorsal column/medial lemniscus pathway. The former crosses/decussates at the level of the spinl nerve, where as the latter crosses at the level of the medulla.
What is the pathophysiology of a DCML lesion?
A lesion of the DCML pathway causes a loss of proprioception and fine touch. However, a small number of tactile fibres travel within the anterolateral system, and so the patient is still able to perform tasks requiring tactile information processing.
What are the DCML and the anterolateral tracts?
The DCML and the anterolateral tracts transmit conscious sensations, such as pain, touch and temperature. The tracts that carry unconscious proprioceptive information are collectively known as the spinocerebellar tracts. Although we cannot physically acknowledge these signals, they help our brain co-ordinate and refine motor movements.
What is the difference between Brown-Séquard syndrome and DCML?
Injury to the anterolateral system will produce an impairment of pain and temperature sensation. In contrast to DCML lesions, this sensory loss will be contralateral (the spinothalamic tracts decussate within the spinal cord). Brown-Séquard syndrome refers to a hemisection (one sided lesion) of the spinal cord.