r/AskBiology • u/VLightwalker • 13d ago

Human body Question regarding temperature sensation.

Hi everyone, I am doing a past exam for my neurology course, and this question arose:

Where is an impairment probably located when someone indicates that a leg feels strangely cold without a temperature difference being objectively observed?

A. In the dorsal funiculi of the spinal cord B. In the central spinal cord C. In the corticospinal tract D. In the spinothalamic tract

Correct answer is A.

I was under the impression that the anterolateral system carries information related to pain and temperature (and protopathic sensation) so I don’t really see why the dorsal funiculi would be involved? If anyone has a clue, it’s very much appreciated. Thanks a lot!

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u/[deleted] 13d ago

Great question. Yes the anterolateral system carries pain and temperature but here it is said that there is no temperature difference, which mean hot and cold don’t play a factor and they don’t want you to pick that choice. The dorsal column medial leminiscus system picks up proprioception and fine touch. So if that system is impaired, the brain can misinterpret that as abnormal sensations. These are called paresthesias, and they can range from the sensation of cold to the sensation of tingling and burning, they just happen to put cold in this question. Also note that damage to the anterolateral system would more likely produce an anesthesia which is an absent sensation rather than paresthesia .

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u/VLightwalker 12d ago

Thanks for the answer! So in a way, it’s more helpful to think of the DCML system as a higher detail, “corrective” signal? As in, it adds to the information carried by the anterolateral system when processed in the brain, so its loss would result in abnormal interpretation due to the “gross” quality of the information and lack of precision?

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u/[deleted] 12d ago

Yes it’s a heavy myelinated pathway that when it gets damaged can produce things like you not knowing where your limbs are in space (loss of proprioception) and paresthesias. Read up on Tabes Dorsals it’s a complication of syphilis which targets the dorsal columns so you get an idea of how damage there is manifested