Question

question 26
persons who have suffered an injury to the spinothalamic tracts of the spinal cord:
a cannot voluntarily move their muscles
b lose control of muscle tone, posture and sweat glands
c feel no pain, touch or temperature changes
d all of these

Explanation:

The spinothalamic tracts are responsible for transmitting pain, temperature, and crude touch sensations. If they are injured:

• Option A: Voluntary muscle movement is mainly controlled by the corticospinal tracts, not the spinothalamic tracts. So this option is incorrect.
• Option B: Muscle tone, posture (related to proprioception - not spinothalamic) and sweat glands (sympathetic nervous system - not directly spinothalamic). So this option is incorrect.
• Option C: Since spinothalamic tracts carry pain, touch (crude), and temperature sensations, injury to them would lead to loss of these sensations. This option is correct.

Answer:

C. feel no pain, touch or temperature changes