Textbook Question
Which two cranial nerves mediate the gag reflex?
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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 18
Which of the following somatic sensations is not carried by the posterior columns?
a. Tactile senses
b. Temperature
c. Proprioception
d. Stretch
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the function of the posterior columns: The posterior columns (also known as the dorsal columns) are responsible for transmitting specific types of somatic sensory information to the brain, including fine touch (tactile senses), vibration, and proprioception (sense of body position).
Review the types of somatic sensations listed in the question: Tactile senses, temperature, proprioception, and stretch. Determine which of these sensations aligns with the functions of the posterior columns.
Recall that temperature sensation is carried by the spinothalamic tract, not the posterior columns. The spinothalamic tract is responsible for transmitting pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations.
Analyze the other options: Tactile senses, proprioception, and stretch are all associated with the posterior columns or related pathways. Stretch sensation is closely tied to proprioception, which is carried by the posterior columns.
Conclude that temperature is the somatic sensation not carried by the posterior columns, as it is transmitted via the spinothalamic tract instead.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Posterior Columns
The posterior columns, also known as the dorsal columns, are pathways in the spinal cord that carry sensory information related to fine touch, vibration, and proprioception. They are crucial for transmitting detailed sensory information to the brain, allowing for precise perception of body position and movement.
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Somatic Sensations
Somatic sensations refer to the sensory modalities that arise from the skin, muscles, and joints, including touch, temperature, pain, and proprioception. These sensations are essential for interacting with the environment and maintaining body awareness, and they are processed by different neural pathways in the nervous system.
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Temperature Sensation
Temperature sensation is the ability to perceive thermal changes in the environment, which is primarily carried by the spinothalamic tract rather than the posterior columns. This pathway transmits information about temperature and pain, distinguishing it from the modalities of touch and proprioception that the posterior columns handle.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
b. The Golgi tendon organs detect stretch in a simple stretch reflex.
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Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
b. Thermoreceptors send temperature information to centers in the hypothalamus.
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Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
a. The simple stretch reflex is a monosynaptic reflex with only a single synapse in the spinal cord between the sensory and motor neurons.
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Textbook Question
Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
c. A flexion reflex is a monosynaptic reflex with only one synapse in the spinal cord.
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