Neuroanatomy: Lissauer tract: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Neuroanatomy: Lissauer tract

Sample item

The dorsolateral tract of Lissauer lies at the tip of the dorsal horn. What is its role?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Carries pain and temperature fibres up or down one or two segments before they synapse

Fine unmyelinated and thinly myelinated pain and temperature afferents enter the cord and ascend or descend a segment or two in Lissauer's tract before ending in the dorsal horn. Because of this, the sensory level for pain and temperature lies a segment or two below a cord lesion. Fine touch and vibration travel in the dorsal columns.

Option by option

  • A. Carries pain and temperature fibres up or down one or two segments before they synapse (correct)

    Correct. Lissauer's tract redistributes pain and temperature afferents across neighbouring segments.

  • B. Carries preganglionic sympathetic fibres to the lateral horn

    Preganglionic sympathetic neurons lie in the lateral horn and their fibres leave via the ventral root.

  • C. Carries fine touch and vibration to the nucleus gracilis

    Fine touch and vibration ascend in the dorsal columns to the gracile and cuneate nuclei.

  • D. Carries motor fibres to the anterior horn cells

    Motor fibres descend in the lateral and anterior corticospinal tracts.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Carries pain and temperature fibres up or down one or two segments before they synapse. Fine unmyelinated and thinly myelinated pain and temperature afferents enter the cord and ascend or descend a segment or two in Lissauer's tract before ending in the dorsal horn.

Why is "Carries preganglionic sympathetic fibres to the lateral horn" not the answer?

Preganglionic sympathetic neurons lie in the lateral horn and their fibres leave via the ventral root.

Why is "Carries fine touch and vibration to the nucleus gracilis" not the answer?

Fine touch and vibration ascend in the dorsal columns to the gracile and cuneate nuclei.

Why is "Carries motor fibres to the anterior horn cells" not the answer?

Motor fibres descend in the lateral and anterior corticospinal tracts.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: Lissauer tract in Anatomy. Because of this, the sensory level for pain and temperature lies a segment or two below a cord lesion. Fine touch and vibration travel in the dorsal columns.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neuroanatomy: Lissauer tract?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.