01:146:295 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Posterior Grey Column, Mechanoreceptor, Retina

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:295
• Professor: J.Schjott

Document Summary

This takes place in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord where the sensory info is coming in. It is the interaction between 2 different types of sensory axons coming into the same place in the spinal cord. The a fibers (the mechanoreceptor responsible for touch, vibration, pressure), the c-fibers and the a fibers all come into this area. It explains why when you rub an area where you experience pain, the pain eases. This action activates the mechanoreceptors, so in addition to the pain information coming in you also receives information about touch, vibration and pressure. This reduces the level of pain you are feeling because a activates the interneuron which releases inhibitory neuron on the 2nd order neuron on the spinothalamic track thereby reducing pain. C-fiber also connects to the interneuron, it tries to inhibit its activity so that maximum levels of pain can be felt.