Somatosensory system

Somatosensory System

The Somatosensory system is a complex system of sensory neurons and pathways that responds to changes at the surface or inside the body. The axons (as afferent nerve fibers) of sensory neurons connect with, or respond to, various receptor cells. These sensory receptor cells are activated by different stimuli such as heat and nociception, giving a functional name to the responding sensory neuron, such as a thermoreceptor which carries information about temperature changes.

Structure

The somatosensory system is spread throughout all major parts of our body. At its simplest, the system works when neurons in the body sense changes in the environment, such as heat or light, and send these signals to the brain. This process occurs in two stages: transduction and transmission.

Transduction

Transduction occurs when a sensory neuron converts a specific type of physical energy into electrical signals. This process is achieved through the activation of transduction channels within the sensory neuron that convert the energy into electrical signals.

Transmission

Transmission is the process by which the electrical signals are sent from the sensory neuron to the brain. This is achieved through the activation of voltage-gated ion channels that propagate the electrical signal along the axon of the neuron.

Function

The somatosensory system is responsible for processing sensory information from the body. This includes touch, temperature, body position, and pain signals. The system is critical for our ability to interact with the environment and react to potential threats.

Clinical significance

Damage to the somatosensory system can result in a variety of neurological conditions, such as somatosensory disorders, which can affect a person's ability to perceive touch, temperature, body position, and pain.

See also

• Nervous system
• Sensory system
• Sensory neuron
• Sensory receptors

References

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  Comprehensive list of relevant pathways for the somatosensory system
• Diagram of the somatosensory pathways
  Diagram of the somatosensory pathways
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  Sensory homunculus representation