SENSORY NERVOUS SYSTEM

Dr. Ayisha Qureshi Assistant Professor

MBBS, Mphil

Stimulus & Modalities

• A stimulus is a change detectable by the body.

• Stimuli exist in a variety of energy forms, or modalities, such as heat, light, sound, pressure, and chemical changes.

• Sometimes we perceive sensory signals when they reach a level of consciousness, but other times they are processed completely at the subconscious level.

• All the information regarding all these senses is send to the CNS via AFFERENT NEURONS.

THE CONVERSION OF STIMULUS ENERGY INTO A GRADED POTENTIAL IS CALLED

SENSORY TRANSDUCTION AND IS DONE BY SENSORY RECEPTORS.

Because the only way afferentneurons can transmit information to the CNS about stimuliis via action potential propagation, these forms of energy

must be converted into electrical signals.

SENSORY NERVOUS SYSTEM

SOMATIC SENSES

Mechano-receptive

Tactile(Touch, tickle ,

Pressure, Vibration)

Position

Thermo-receptiv

e

Hot Cold

Pain

SPECIAL SENSES

SENSORY RECEPTORS

Receptors are sensory afferent nerve endings that terminate in periphery as either part of a neuron or in the form of specialized capsulated structures. They act as biological transducers and convert various forms of energy acting on them into action potentials.

Classification of Receptors

RECEPTORS

INTEROCEPTORS

Receptors which give response to stimuli arising

from WITHIN the body.

EXTEROCEPTORS

Receptors which give response to stimuli arising from OUTSIDE the body.

INTEROCEPTORSVISCEROCEPTORS

Stretch Receptors(Heart)

Baroreceptors (pressure changes in b.v)

Chemoreceptors (chemical changes in blood)

Osmoreceptors (Osmotic Pressure changes Urinary Tract &

Brain )

PROPRIOCEPTORSMuscle Spindle

Golgi Tendon Organs

Pacinian Corpuscle Free Nerve endings

EXTERCEPTORSCUTANEOUS RECEPTORS

TOUCHMEISSNER’S CORPUSCLE & MERKEL’S DISC

PRESSUREPACINIAN CORPUSCLE

COLDTHERMORECEPTOR

WARMTHTHERMORECEPTOR

PAINFREE NERVE ENDING’S

SPECIAL SENSESCHEMORECEPTORS(Taste & Smell)

TELERECEPTORS(Vision & Hearing)

Receptors are present in the skin, the mucous membranes, fascia and deeper parts of the body. They are responsible for 4 different sensations: 1. Touch-pressure 2. Cold3. Warmth and 4. Pain • The receptors are: 1. Encapsulated receptors: consist of multilayered capsules of connective tissue which

surround a core of cells in which axons end after losing their myelin sheath. - Meissner’s corpuscle: sensitive to light touch & are rapidly adapting. Are present just below the epidermis in the palmer surface of fingers, lips, margins of the eyelids. - Pacinian Corpuscle: respond to vibration & deep pressure & is rapidly adapting. Present in deeper tissues and also in pleura, peritoneum, external genitalia and walls of many viscera. Also present in periostium, ligaments and joint capsules. - Krause’s end bulbs: occur in conjunctivae, papillae of lips and tongue. 2. Expanded tips on sensory nerve endings:

- Merkel’s discs: which detects light, sustained touch and texture, and is slowly adapting. Present in hairless skin e.g. fingertips.

- Riffini’s end organs: in deeper layer of skin and deeper tissues, e.g. periostium, ligaments and joint capsules. They respond to deep, sustained pressure and stretch of the skin, such as during a massage, and are slowly adapting. 3. Naked or free nerve endings: are the most widely distributed receptors in the body and can be excited by touch, cold, warmth and pain.

SENSORY RECEPTORS

Pacinian Corpuscle Free nerve ending’s

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF RECEPTORS

The following are the properties of the Sensory Receptors: 1. Receptor Potential. 2. Specificity of stimulus & the Adequate stimulus.3. Effect of strength of stimulus. 4. Adaptation (also Desensitization).5. Muller’s doctrine of specific nerve energies6. Law of projection.7. Threshold.8. Sensory unit 9. Receptive field.

THE CHANGES IN SENSORY RECEPTOR MEMBRANE POTENTIAL IS A GRADED POTENTIAL CALLED THE RECEPTOR POTENTIAL.

1. RECEPTOR POTENTIAL

SENSORY TRANSDUCTION • Transduction is the conversion

of stimulus energy into information that can be processed by the nervous system, which is an action potential.

Stimulus↓

Receptor (SENSORY TRANSDUCTION)

↓Graded Potential

(RECEPTOR POTENTIAL)↓

Afferent Neuron ↓

Action Potential

How is a physical or a chemical stimulus converted into achange in membrane potential?

Stimulus(chemical/ mechanical/ thermal)

↓Receptor which is either:

1. Specialized ending of the afferent neuron, OR2. A separate receptor cell associated with a peripheral nerve ending.

↓Membrane permeability altered

(usually by opening of ligand-gated or stimulus sensitive cation channels) ↓

A graded potential is generated. It is called RECEPTOR POTENTIAL. ↓

There is summation, and if the stimulus is strong, it leads to a greater permeability change in the receptor which leads to a large Receptor potential.

↓If the Receptor Potential is large enough

↓An Action Potential is generated

(by opening of the voltage-gated Na channels in the afferent neuron next to the receptor)

THE INITIATION OF THE ACTION POTENTIAL

The initiation site of action potentials in an afferent neuron differs from the site in an efferent neuron or interneuron.In the other two types of neurons (interneuron & the efferent neuron), action potentials are initiated at the axon hillock located at the start of the axon next to the cell body. However, in the afferent neuron, action potentials are initiated at the peripheral end of fiber next to the receptor, a long distance from the cell body.

2. SPECIFICITY OF STIMULUS & ADEQUATE STIMULUS

If all stimuli are converted to action potentials in sensory neuronsand all action potentials are identical, how can the central nervous

system tell the difference between heat and pressure, orbetween a pinprick to the toe and one to the hand?

• All stimuli once received by the receptor are converted into action potentials and all of them are carried by the afferent neurons. This means that the CNS must distinguish four properties of a stimulus to be able to specify a stimulus:

(1) its nature, or modality and (2) its location(3) Intensity (4) Duration

Adequate Stimulus • Each sensory receptor has an adequate stimulus, a particular form of

energy to which it is most responsive. For example, thermoreceptors are more sensitive to temperature changes than to pressure, and mechanoreceptors respond preferentially to stimuli that deform the cell membrane, receptors in the eye are sensitive to light, receptors in the ear to sound waves, and warmth receptors in the skin to heat energy. Because of this differential sensitivity of receptors, we cannot “see” with our ears or “hear” with our eyes.

• Some receptors can respond weakly to stimuli other than their adequate stimulus, but even when activated by a different stimulus, a receptor still gives rise to the sensation usually detected by that receptor type. They respond to most other forms of energy if the intensity is high enough. Photoreceptors of the eye respond most readily to light, for instance, but a blow to the eye may cause us to “see stars”, an example of mechanical energy of sufficient force to stimulate the photoreceptors.

• Sensory receptors can be incredibly sensitive to its preferred stimulus.

Modality/ Nature of the stimulus

The 1:1 association of a receptor with a sensation is called labeled line coding. Stimulation of a cold receptor is always perceived as cold, whether the actual stimulus was cold or an artificial depolarization of the receptor. The blow to the eye that causes us to see a flash of light is another example of labeled line coding. A blow to the eye is seen as “white light” as the photoreceptors were stimulated.

The table summarizes how the CNS is informed of the type (what?), location (where?), and intensity (how much?)of a stimulus.

Location of the stimulus

The location of a stimulus is also coded according to which receptive fields are activated. The sensory region supplied by a single sensory neuron is called a receptive field. For example, touch receptors in the hand project to a specific area of the cerebral cortex. Experimental stimulation of that area of the cortex during brain surgery is interpreted as a touch to the hand, even though there is no contact. Also, lateral inhibition of the less activated regions leads to release of inhibitory NT that inhibits the region around the stimulated area. The contrast leads to a better localization of the stimulated area. (Tactile localization)

Receptive fields and convergence

3. Effect of Strength & Duration of Stimulus:

• For individual sensory neurons, intensity discrimination begins at the receptor. If a stimulus is below threshold, the primary sensory neuron does not respond. Once stimulus intensity exceeds threshold, the primary sensory neuron begins to produce action potentials.

• As stimulus intensity increases, the receptor potential amplitude (strength) increases in proportion, and the frequency of action potentials in the primary sensory neuron increases, up to a maximum rate.

• Similarly, the duration of a stimulus is coded by the duration of action potentials in the sensory neuron. In general, a longer stimulus generates a longer series of action potentials in the primary sensory neuron

IT IS THE DECREASE IN RESPONSE OF RECEPTORS ON BEING CONTINUOUSLY STIMULATED.

4. ADAPTATION also called Desensitization.

When a stimulus persists continuously, some receptors adapt, or cease to respond. Thus, the receptor “adapts” to the stimulus by no longer responding to it to the same degree.

Receptors fall into one of two classes, depending on how they adapt to continuous stimulation: 1. Tonic receptors2. Phasic receptors

Types of receptors based on their adaptation

TONIC RECEPTORS• Tonic Receptors are slowly adapting

receptors that respond rapidly when first activated, then slow down and maintain their response.

• Pressure sensitive baroreceptors, irritant receptors, and some tactile receptors and proprioceptors fall into this category. In general, the stimuli that activate tonic receptors are parameters that must be monitored continuously by the body.

• It is important that these receptors do not adapt to a stimulus and continue to generate action potentials to relay this information to the CNS.

PHASIC RECEPTORS• Phasic receptors are rapidly adapting

receptors that respond when they first receive a stimulus but stop responding if the strength of the stimulus remains constant. Many of the tactile receptors in the skin belong to this class.

• Some phasic receptors, most notably the Pacinian corpuscle, respond with a slight depolarization called the off response when the stimulus is removed. They are important in situations where it is important to signal a change in stimulus intensity rather than the status quo information.

• When you put something on, you soon become accustomed to it, because of these receptors’ rapid adaptation. When you take the item off , you are aware of its removal because of the “off” response.

THE NATURE OF PERCEPTION OF A STIMULUS BY THE CNS IS DEFINED BY THE PATHWAY OVER WHICH THE SENSORY INFORMATION IS CARRIED. HENCE, THE ORIGIN OF THE SENSATION IS NOT IMPORTANT.

5. MULLER’S DOCTRINE OF SPECIFIC NERVE ENERGIES &

STIMULATION OF NERVE FIBER ANYWHERE ALONG ITS COURSE PRODUCES THE SPECIFIC SENSATION IN THE AREA OF THE BODY FROM WHERE IT ORIGINATED.

6. LAW OF PROJECTION

ALL RECEPTORS NEED A MINIMUM STRENGTH OF STIMULUS TO START SHOWING ACTIVITY; THIS STRENGTH IS CALLED THE THRESHOLD.

6. THRESHOLD

THE SENSORY UNIT IS A SINGLE PRIMARY AFFERENT NERVE INCLUDING ALL ITS PERIPHERAL BRANCHES.

7. SENSORY UNIT

THE AREA OF THE BODY WHOSE SENSORY NERVE SUPPLY COMES FROM A SINGLE SENSORY UNIT IS CALLED A RECEPTIVE FIELD.

8. RECEPTIVE FIELD.

Summary 1. Each receptor is most sensitive to a particular type of stimulus.2. A stimulus above threshold initiates action potentials in a sensory neuron that projects to the CNS.3. Stimulus intensity and duration are coded in the pattern of action potentials reaching the CNS.4. Stimulus location and modality are coded according to which receptors are activated.5. Each sensory pathway projects to a specific region of the cerebral cortex dedicated to a particular receptive field.The brain can then tell the origin of each incoming signal.

SENSORY CLASSIFICATION OF THE NERVE FIBERS

• Type A fibers are the typical large and medium-sized myelinated fibers of spinal nerves.

• Type C fibers are the small unmyelinated nerve fibers that conduct impulses at low velocities. The C fibers constitute more than one half of the sensory fibers in most peripheral nerves, as well as all the postganglionic autonomic fibers.

• Note that a few large myelinated fibers can transmit impulses at velocities as great as 120 m/sec, a distance in 1 second that is longer than a football field.

• Conversely, the smallest fibers transmit impulses as slowly as 0.5 m/sec, requiring about 2 seconds to go from the big toe to the spinal cord.

THE SENSE OF TOUCH: TACTILE SENSE

Sense of touch is also called the Tactile sense. Sense of pressure is not separate from the sense of touch as it is only sustained touch. Receptors: • Free nerve endings.• Pacinian corpuscles.• Meissner’s corpuscles. • Ruffini’s end organs• Merkel’s discs. • Hair end organs. Location: • All cutaneous receptors (skin)• Dermal tissue• Within the mouth (tip of tongue esp.)• Tendons• Periostium Nerve fibers carrying the tactile sensations: • A-beta nerve fibers• C nerve fibers

Tactile Localization

This is the capacity to localize the area where a touch stimulus is applied. The lips and the

fingers have the best developed tactile localization and also possess a low touch

threshold.

TWO-POINT DISCRIMINATION

• This is the capacity to distinguish two tactile stimuli when an area of skin is stimulated by two stimuli simultaneously at a certain distance from each other.

• A high tactile discrimination is said to present when one can distinguish between the two points.

THE DORSAL COLUMN MEDIAL LEMNISCUS SYSTEM

`• DCML is a crossed system. It originates from mechano-receptors located in the body

wall and projects to the contralateral cerebral hemisphere via a 3-neuron projection system.

• Also called: - Dorsal white column system - The Lemniscal system

• It is constituted of 2 tracts called: - Fasciculus Gracilis - Fasciculus Cuneatus

• The dorsal column-medial lemniscal system is composed of large, myelinated nerve fibers that transmit signals to the brain at velocities of 30 to 110 m/sec.

• The dorsal column-medial lemniscal system, as its name implies, mainly in the dorsal columns of the cord.

• FUNCTIONS: It carries the following sensations: - Fine tactile sensations - Tactile localization - Tactile discrimination - Sensation of vibration - Conscious kinesthetic sense (sensation or awareness of various muscular activities in

different parts of the body).- Stereognosis (It is the ability to recognize the known objects by touch with closed eyes).

Touch receptor/proprioceptor- Fasciculus Gracilis fibers from sacral, lumbar & lower

thoracic ganglion- Fasciculus Cuneatus contains fibers from Upper

thoracic and cervical ganglion ↓

First order neuron ↓

Posterior root ganglion (Cell bodies) ↓

Spinal cord (post. Column. Same side)↓

Medulla Oblongata (the cuneate & gracile nuclei)↓

Second order neurons ↓

Internal Arcuate Fibers arise tocross over to form the SENSORY DECUSSATION

↓Ascends as the MEDIAL LEMNISCUS through the pons

& midbrain on the contralateral side ↓

THALAMUS (Ventral Posterolateral nucleus of thalamus)

↓Third order neurons

↓Cerebral cortex

(Primary Somatosensory Cortex)

Lesion of the DCML at the level of T8 on the left side causes what kind of

impairment?

Lesion of the DCML at the level of C3 on the left side produces what kind

of impairment?

Lesion of the right medial lemniscus produces what impairment?

Lesion of the right somatosensory cortex or the right internal capsule

produces what impairment?

Effects produced by lesions of the posterior white columns leads to:

The lesion produces the following effects on the same side: 1. Loss of tactile localization and two-point discrimination. 2. Loss of vibratory sense. 3. Astereognosis (loss of appreciation of difference in

weight and inability to identify objects placed in hand by feeling them)

4. Position and movement sense is lost leading to impairment in the performance of voluntary motor functions.