High School

Nociceptors are a component of which neural pathways?

1) Afferent Pathway
2) Efferent Pathway
3) Motor Pathway
4) Cortical Pathway

Answer :

Nociceptors are part of the afferent pathway, which carries sensory information from the body to the brain through the spinothalamic tract. Thus option 1) Afferent Pathway is correct answer.

Nociceptors are specialized sensory receptors responsible for detecting harmful stimuli, such as those that might cause pain. The neural pathway that nociceptors are part of is the afferent pathway. This pathway begins at the periphery with the nociceptors (first-order sensory neurons) detecting a pain stimulus. These nociceptor fibers then make synaptic contact with second-order neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The signal is then carried via the spinothalamic tract to the brain, specifically to the thalamus and then to the primary somatosensory cortex, where it is processed and pain is perceived. Therefore, the correct answer is 1) Afferent Pathway.