Table of contents

1. Introduction to Anatomy & Physiology5h 43m
2. Cell Chemistry & Cell Components12h 36m
3. Energy & Cell Processes10h 6m
4. Tissues & Histology10h 3m
5. Integumentary System2h 20m
6. Bones & Skeletal Tissue2h 16m
7. The Skeletal System2h 35m
8. Joints2h 17m
9. Muscle Tissue2h 33m
10. Muscles1h 11m
11. Nervous Tissue and Nervous System1h 35m
12. The Central Nervous System1h 6m
- Introduction to the Central Nervous System
  18m
- The Cerebrum
  48m
13. The Peripheral Nervous System1h 26m
14. The Autonomic Nervous System1h 38m
15. The Special Senses2h 41m
16. The Endocrine System2h 48m
17. The Blood3h 22m
18. The Heart3h 42m
19. The Blood Vessels3h 35m
20. The Lymphatic System3h 16m
21. The Immune System14h 37m
22. The Respiratory System3h 20m
23. The Digestive System2h 5m
24. Metabolism and Nutrition4h 0m
25. The Urinary System2h 39m
26. Fluid and Electrolyte Balance, Acid Base Balance37m
27. The Reproductive System2h 5m
28. Human Development1h 21m
29. Heredity3h 32m

12. The Central Nervous System

Introduction to the Central Nervous System

Anatomy & Physiology

12. The Central Nervous System

Introduction to the Central Nervous System

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2:16 minutes

Problem 20

Textbook Question

Describe the functional problems that would be experienced by a person in which these fiber tracts have been cut:
a. Lateral spinothalamic
b. Ventral and dorsal spinocerebellar
c. Tectospinal

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the role of the lateral spinothalamic tract. This tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations from the body to the brain. If this tract is cut, the person would experience a loss of pain and temperature sensation on the opposite side of the body below the level of the injury. This is due to the fact that the fibers cross to the opposite side in the spinal cord.

Step 2: Examine the function of the ventral and dorsal spinocerebellar tracts. These tracts are involved in transmitting proprioceptive information (body position and movement) from muscles and joints to the cerebellum for coordination of movement. If these tracts are cut, the person would experience difficulties with balance, coordination, and fine motor control, particularly on the same side of the body as the injury, since these tracts do not cross over.

Step 3: Analyze the role of the tectospinal tract. This tract is responsible for mediating reflexive head and neck movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli. If this tract is cut, the person would have impaired ability to orient their head and neck reflexively toward visual or auditory stimuli, which could affect their ability to respond to environmental cues.

Step 4: Consider the overall impact of these injuries. Cutting these fiber tracts would result in a combination of sensory deficits (loss of pain, temperature, and proprioception) and motor deficits (impaired reflexive movements and coordination). The specific symptoms would depend on the location and extent of the injury.

Step 5: Relate these functional problems to real-life scenarios. For example, the person might struggle with activities requiring precise movements, such as walking or grasping objects, and might be unable to react appropriately to environmental dangers, such as withdrawing from a painful stimulus or turning toward a sudden sound.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Lateral Spinothalamic Tract

The lateral spinothalamic tract is a neural pathway that transmits pain and temperature sensations from the body to the brain. If this tract is cut, a person would experience a loss of the ability to perceive pain and temperature on the opposite side of the body from the injury, leading to potential injuries due to lack of awareness of harmful stimuli.

Spinocerebellar Tracts

The ventral and dorsal spinocerebellar tracts are responsible for conveying proprioceptive information from the body to the cerebellum, which is crucial for coordination and balance. Damage to these tracts would result in ataxia, or lack of muscle control, leading to difficulties in movement and maintaining posture.

Tectospinal Tract

The tectospinal tract is involved in reflexive head and eye movements in response to visual and auditory stimuli. If this tract is severed, a person may have impaired reflexes to orient their head and eyes towards stimuli, affecting their ability to respond to their environment effectively.