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Related Concept Videos

Somatosensation01:33

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System01:11

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...

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The somatosensory cortex in multiple system atrophy.

Yoko Mochizuki1, Toshio Mizutani, Yoko Warabi

  • 1Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, 2-6-1, Musashidai, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo, 183-0042, Japan. mochi@nihon-u.ne.jp

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|May 27, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) causes degeneration in both the precentral and postcentral cortex, with somatosensory changes occurring first. This neurodegenerative disease affects small myelinated fibers in the corticospinal tract.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuropathology

Background:

  • Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Degeneration of motor-related cortical areas is recognized in MSA.
  • The postcentral cortex (somatosensory area) in MSA has been under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of MSA on both the precentral (motor) and postcentral (somatosensory) cortical areas.
  • To determine the sequence of degeneration between these two cortical regions in MSA.
  • To clarify the specific neuronal loss patterns in MSA.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of precentral and postcentral cortical degeneration in MSA patients.
  • Histopathological examination of cortical neurons, including Betz cells and deep cortical layers.
  • Assessment of the corticospinal tract for fiber loss.

Main Results:

  • Degenerative changes were observed in both the precentral and postcentral cortex in MSA.
  • Degeneration of the postcentral cortex was found to precede that of the precentral cortex.
  • Betz cells were depleted, not selectively lost, along with other neurons in deep cortical layers.
  • Evidence suggests a selective loss of small-sized myelinated fibers in the corticospinal tract.

Conclusions:

  • MSA affects both motor and somatosensory cortical areas.
  • Somatosensory cortex degeneration occurs earlier than motor cortex degeneration in MSA.
  • The neuropathology of MSA involves the selective loss of small myelinated fibers in the corticospinal tract, rather than selective Betz cell loss.