Somatic Motor and Sensory Pathways- Exam Questions with Verified Solutions Latest Version (2025-
2026) Already Passed
somatic motor pathway has how many neuron series? - Answers 2 neuron series
somatic motor delievers impulses where? - Answers delievrs impulses to skeletal muscle
motor neuron pathway begins? - Answers at the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) and is a 2
neuron pathway to any skeletal muscle in the body
cell bodies for upper motor neurons are located in the ___. Cell bodies for primary sensory neurons are
located in the ___. Cell bodies for lower motor neurons are located in the ___. cell bodies for tertiary
sensory neurons are located in the ___ - Answers cell bodies for upper motor neurons are located in the
precentral gyrus of the cerebellum. Cell bodies for primary sensory neurons are located in the dorsal
root ganglia. Cell bodies for lower motor neurons are located in the anterior grey matter of the spinal
cord. cell bodies for tertiary sensory neurons are located in the thalmus.
what happens to the upper motor neuron in the somatic motor pathway? - Answers ■ The axon of the
upper motor neuron descends into the spinal cord (crossing over to the opposite side of the body at the
medulla oblongata pyramidal decussation) to eventually terminate and synapse at an anterior horn of
gray matter.
■ As the axon of the upper motor neuron descends within the spinal cord it travels in the corticospinal
tract of the white matter.
upper neurons can synapse where? do what? - Answers at the medulla and go to face/cranial nerves or
can continue down the spinal cord to lower motor neurons
These upper motor neurons synapse with a lower motor neuron, the second neuron in the pathway. The
cell body of the lower motor neuron is located in the - Answers anterior horn of gray matter.
■ The axon of the lower motor neuron exits the spinal cord through the ______ of a spinal nerve. -
Answers ventral root
axons in the somatic motor pathway eventually synapse where what happens? - Answers synapse with
skeletal muscles where an impulse triggers the release of acetylcholine
somatic sensory pathways has how mant neuron series? - Answers 3
somatic sensory pathways starts? - Answers at the skin
primary neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers neurons conducts impulses form
receptors in head & body thru cranial & spinal nerves to brain stem or spinal cord
2nd neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers conducts impulses from brain stem or
spinal cord to thalamus
, 3rd neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers conduct impulses from thalamus to
post central gyrus (primary sensory center of cerebrum)
Spinothalamic pathway starts? - Answers at skin
■ Spinothalamic pathway primary neuron? - Answers has dendrites & cell body in dorsal root ganglia,
synapses in posterior horn (grey matter)
■ Spinothalamic pathway after primary neuron? - Answers ○ Changes sides
■ Goes up brain stem to second order neurons
■ Synapse in thalamus
■ Tertiary neurons terminate in post central gyrus on opposite side of pain/sensation receptor
Spinocerebellar pathway - Answers ■ Propriorecptor (balance) muscle spindles (unconscious)
■ Thru dorsal horn up white matter into pons
■ Ends at cerebellum on same side as receptor
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column - Answers ■ Sensory receptors (fine touch, vibration)
■ To white matter up to medulla for synapse
■ Ends at post central gyrus same side as impulse
○Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column in Primary sensory neuron has - Answers nerve endings
(dendrites) and cell body in the (Dorsal root ganglia) sensory ganglia, which synapse at posterior horn
(grey matter)
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column after primary sensory? - Answers ○ Climbs up ascending tract
(lateral spinothalamic tract) in white matter
■ Thru medulla, collateral fibers to recticular formation
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column 2nd neuron? - Answers neuron after the Pons to the way to
mid brain
○ Mandatory synapse in thalamus
tertiary sensory neuron that terminates Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column - Answers in the
post-central gyrus for integration of the sensation in cerebrum
Projects to opposite side of sensory cortex (contralateral)
Events in the neuromuscular junction? - Answers 1. nerve impulse travels down axon to terminal end
bulb
2026) Already Passed
somatic motor pathway has how many neuron series? - Answers 2 neuron series
somatic motor delievers impulses where? - Answers delievrs impulses to skeletal muscle
motor neuron pathway begins? - Answers at the primary motor cortex (precentral gyrus) and is a 2
neuron pathway to any skeletal muscle in the body
cell bodies for upper motor neurons are located in the ___. Cell bodies for primary sensory neurons are
located in the ___. Cell bodies for lower motor neurons are located in the ___. cell bodies for tertiary
sensory neurons are located in the ___ - Answers cell bodies for upper motor neurons are located in the
precentral gyrus of the cerebellum. Cell bodies for primary sensory neurons are located in the dorsal
root ganglia. Cell bodies for lower motor neurons are located in the anterior grey matter of the spinal
cord. cell bodies for tertiary sensory neurons are located in the thalmus.
what happens to the upper motor neuron in the somatic motor pathway? - Answers ■ The axon of the
upper motor neuron descends into the spinal cord (crossing over to the opposite side of the body at the
medulla oblongata pyramidal decussation) to eventually terminate and synapse at an anterior horn of
gray matter.
■ As the axon of the upper motor neuron descends within the spinal cord it travels in the corticospinal
tract of the white matter.
upper neurons can synapse where? do what? - Answers at the medulla and go to face/cranial nerves or
can continue down the spinal cord to lower motor neurons
These upper motor neurons synapse with a lower motor neuron, the second neuron in the pathway. The
cell body of the lower motor neuron is located in the - Answers anterior horn of gray matter.
■ The axon of the lower motor neuron exits the spinal cord through the ______ of a spinal nerve. -
Answers ventral root
axons in the somatic motor pathway eventually synapse where what happens? - Answers synapse with
skeletal muscles where an impulse triggers the release of acetylcholine
somatic sensory pathways has how mant neuron series? - Answers 3
somatic sensory pathways starts? - Answers at the skin
primary neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers neurons conducts impulses form
receptors in head & body thru cranial & spinal nerves to brain stem or spinal cord
2nd neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers conducts impulses from brain stem or
spinal cord to thalamus
, 3rd neurons in the somatic sensory pathway function? - Answers conduct impulses from thalamus to
post central gyrus (primary sensory center of cerebrum)
Spinothalamic pathway starts? - Answers at skin
■ Spinothalamic pathway primary neuron? - Answers has dendrites & cell body in dorsal root ganglia,
synapses in posterior horn (grey matter)
■ Spinothalamic pathway after primary neuron? - Answers ○ Changes sides
■ Goes up brain stem to second order neurons
■ Synapse in thalamus
■ Tertiary neurons terminate in post central gyrus on opposite side of pain/sensation receptor
Spinocerebellar pathway - Answers ■ Propriorecptor (balance) muscle spindles (unconscious)
■ Thru dorsal horn up white matter into pons
■ Ends at cerebellum on same side as receptor
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column - Answers ■ Sensory receptors (fine touch, vibration)
■ To white matter up to medulla for synapse
■ Ends at post central gyrus same side as impulse
○Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column in Primary sensory neuron has - Answers nerve endings
(dendrites) and cell body in the (Dorsal root ganglia) sensory ganglia, which synapse at posterior horn
(grey matter)
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column after primary sensory? - Answers ○ Climbs up ascending tract
(lateral spinothalamic tract) in white matter
■ Thru medulla, collateral fibers to recticular formation
Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column 2nd neuron? - Answers neuron after the Pons to the way to
mid brain
○ Mandatory synapse in thalamus
tertiary sensory neuron that terminates Medial lemniscal pathway / dorsal column - Answers in the
post-central gyrus for integration of the sensation in cerebrum
Projects to opposite side of sensory cortex (contralateral)
Events in the neuromuscular junction? - Answers 1. nerve impulse travels down axon to terminal end
bulb
