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Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

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...

Somatosensation

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.

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...

What is a Sensory System?

What is a Sensory System?

Sensory systems detect stimuli—such as light and sound waves—and transduce them into neural signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. In addition to external stimuli detected by the senses, some sensory systems detect internal stimuli—such as the proprioceptors in muscles and tendons that send feedback about limb position.

Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System

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...

Introduction to Special Senses

Introduction to Special Senses

Sensory receptors play an integral part in comprehending our external and internal environments. They receive diverse stimuli, converting them into the nervous system's electrochemical signals. This conversion occurs as the stimulus alters the sensory neuron's cell membrane potential, instigating the generation of an action potential. This action potential is subsequently transmitted to the central nervous system (CNS), which integrates with other sensory data or higher cognitive...

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Updated: Mar 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Corneal Innervation Research Through Innovative Models

Author Spotlight: Advancing Corneal Innervation Research Through Innovative Models

Published on: December 8, 2023

Sensory neuronopathies.

Kelly Graham Gwathmey¹

¹Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 800394, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22908, USA.

|October 16, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Sensory neuronopathies involve degeneration of sensory neurons, causing distinct symptoms like sensory loss and ataxia. Early diagnosis is crucial for identifying underlying conditions such as cancer or Sjögren syndrome.

Keywords:

Sjögren syndrome dorsal root ganglion paraneoplastic neuropathy sensory ganglionopathy sensory neuronopathy

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Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers

Structured Motor Rehabilitation After Selective Nerve Transfers

Published on: August 15, 2019

Area of Science:

Neurology
Neuroscience

Background:

Sensory neuronopathies are a rare neuropathy type affecting dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia.
They present with subacute, asymmetric sensory impairment and early ataxia.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired sensory neuronopathies.
To differentiate acquired forms from hereditary and degenerative types.

Main Methods:

Literature review of acquired sensory neuronopathies.
Discussion of diagnostic strategies and treatment options.
Brief overview of hereditary and degenerative sensory neuronopathies.

Main Results:

Acquired sensory neuronopathies have limited etiologies, including malignancy and autoimmune diseases like Sjögren syndrome.
Prompt identification is vital for managing associated serious conditions.
Hereditary and degenerative forms are slowly progressive with additional neurological symptoms.

Conclusions:

Acquired sensory neuronopathies require timely diagnosis due to potential links with severe systemic diseases.
Understanding the diverse causes and clinical features is key for effective patient management.