when you stimulate the dorsal column tract

#WHEN YOU STIMULATE THE DORSAL COLUMN TRACT SKIN#

Within the spinal cord, the two systems are segregated. Testing these stimuli provides information about whether these two major ascending pathways are functioning properly. The dorsal column pathway conveys fine touch, vibration, and proprioceptive information, whereas the spinothalamic pathway primarily conveys pain and temperature. The various stimuli used to test sensory input assess the function of the major ascending tracts of the spinal cord. If the distal locations are not perceived, the test is repeated at increasingly proximal joints. The sense of position and motion, proprioception, is tested by moving the fingers or toes and asking the patient if they sense the movement. All of these tests are repeated in distal and proximal locations and for different dermatomes to assess the spatial specificity of perception. The patient would be asked in what direction the stimulus is moving.

#WHEN YOU STIMULATE THE DORSAL COLUMN TRACT SKIN#

Using the cotton tip of the applicator, or even just a fingertip, the perception of tactile movement can be assessed as the stimulus is drawn across the skin for approximately 2–3 cm. When the tuning fork is still, the metal against the skin can be perceived as a cold stimulus. The perception of vibratory stimuli can be testing using an oscillating tuning fork placed against prominent bone features such as the distal head of the ulna on the medial aspect of the elbow. The perception of pain can be tested using the broken end of the cotton-tipped applicator.

Other modalities of somatosensation can be tested using a few simple tools. (credit: modification of work by Mikael Häggström) The surface of the skin can be divided into topographic regions that relate to the location of sensory endings in the skin based on the spinal nerve that contains those fibers.

When you stimulate the dorsal column tract