Rev,
So you won't stress your mind too much...
Actually, I mis-spoke. The Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus system bears spatial organization, but the somatotropic organization is primarily a characteristic of the somatosensory cortex and primary motor cortex in the brain and the ventral column in the spinal cord.
The ventral column is organized so that the dorsal fibers tend to innervate flexors, the ventral fibers innervate extensors, the lateral fibers innervate distal structures, and the medial fibers innervate proximal sructures.
As for the cortex areas, if you'll remember, the motor homunculus has a spatial organization where the lower extrememty, foot, and toes are at the top of the cortical strip and as you move caudally down the cortical strip, you move cranially on the body so that the face and head tends to be located near the temporal area. The somatosensory cortex is organized the same way. The Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus system is an afferent pathway for sensory inputs which travels up the spine ipsilaterally until it reaches the medulla where tertiary neurons decisate and travel up to the SSCx. This is opposed to the Anterolateral system in which neurons decisate at the level of entry into the spinal cord before traveling to the cortex.
Yep...that should about cover it.
If you want to really be scared on Halloween...try taking a Neuro test first thing in the morning.
--nathan
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'91 GT, Built 306, Wolverine 1087 cam, ported Windsor Jr. Irons, and all the goodies...click the link to the left to see a full list of my mods...
Tried and True 302 Being Built to Outrun You!
--Texas Panhandle--
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