ASCENDING TRACT Meaning and
Definition
-
An ascending tract refers to a pathway or bundle of nerve fibers in the central nervous system that carries sensory information from the periphery to higher brain centers. It forms a crucial part of the sensory pathways involved in transmitting signals related to touch, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the sensory receptors located in various parts of the body to the brain for further processing and interpretation.
Ascending tracts typically consist of a chain of neurons known as relay neurons or second-order neurons. These neurons are connected in a specific sequence, with each neuron in the chain relaying the sensory information received from the previous neuron to the subsequent one. This sequential relay allows for the transmission of the sensory signals along the ascending tract until it reaches the appropriate brain areas responsible for sensory perception and interpretation.
The ascending tracts are organized in a somatotopic manner, meaning each tract corresponds to a particular region of the body. There are various ascending tracts, including the spinothalamic tract, posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway, spinocerebellar tracts, and trigeminothalamic tract, among others. Each tract has its own specific function and conveys sensory information from different areas of the body.
Understanding the organization and functions of ascending tracts is crucial for studying sensory processing, identifying abnormalities or lesions that may affect sensory transmission, and developing targeted interventions to alleviate sensory-related disorders.
-
A fasciculus of afferent white fibers in the spinal cord, the course of progressive degeneration in which proceeds from below upward.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ASCENDING TRACT
- zscending tract
- sscending tract
- wscending tract
- qscending tract
- aacending tract
- azcending tract
- axcending tract
- adcending tract
- aecending tract
- awcending tract
- asxending tract
- asvending tract
- asfending tract
- asdending tract
- ascwnding tract
- ascsnding tract
- ascdnding tract
- ascrnding tract
- asc4nding tract
- asc3nding tract
Etymology of ASCENDING TRACT
The etymology of the word "ascending tract" can be understood by breaking down the individual components:
1. Ascending: The word "ascending" comes from the Latin verb "ascendere", which means "to go up" or "to climb". The prefix "ad-" denotes a movement "toward" or "in the direction of". Therefore, "ascending" refers to something moving or going upward.
2. Tract: Tract, in this context, comes from the Latin noun "tractus", which means "stretch" or "area". In anatomy and physiology, a tract refers to a bundle of nerve fibers that carry information between different parts of the nervous system.
Combining these components, an "ascending tract" can be understood as a bundle of nerve fibers that transmit information from lower parts of the body or the periphery towards higher parts of the brain or spinal cord.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
