The Somatosensory System and Clinical Application

The Somatosensory System and Clinical Application
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The Somatosensory System and Clinical Application
Background
The somatosensory system forms critical aspect in clinical applications. Clinical practitioners in their administration of medical services have the responsibility of prioritizing patients’ nature in response to their environment. The crucial part of the discussion, however, based on the importance of somatosensory system with respect to conscious perception of environmental stimuli such as position, pressure, and temperature (Lundy-Ekman, 2013). The mentioned elements of body surrounding play an important part in the assessment of human body functionality with respect to the nervous system and related cognitive structures. The discussion provides an outline on somatosensory evaluation considering its importance, how to interpret sensory information, what speeds up or slows down the interpretation, facts learnt from the exercise and how important is the evaluation process.
The Facts Learnt from the Discussion
Various aspects of the somatosensory system are complementary with different responses from the body remaining subsequent to the external stimuli. The discussions herein point to two facts underlining the system’s anatomy and functionality. First, the brain as part of the nervous system plays a critical role in interpreting nervous information from the peripheral nervous system (Lundy-Ekman, 2013). Secondly, any structural damage on one side of the brain affects the sensory capability of the opposite side of the body.

Why it is Important to Evaluate Somatosensory Topics
Evaluation of Somatosensory topics remains important as part, the process contributes to enhancing understanding of body cognitive development and functionality in testing conscious awareness (Lundy-Ekman, 2013). Further, evaluation of somatosensory topics by practitioners allows them to grow competencies necessary in providing clinical care to patients showing signs of cognitive deficiencies.
How we Interpret Sensory Information from the Environment
Interpretation of sensory information from our environment takes various forms depending on how the body responds to stimuli sensitivity and threshold. The interpretation of the of the sensory information depends on the somatosensory tracts that such stimuli take as they move from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system for interpretation (Lundy-Ekman, 2013). Such includes the conscious understanding of position, vibration, and touch sense.
What speeds up or slows down interpretation of Sensory Information
According to Lundy-Ekman (2013), sensing mechanisms differ depending on various factors including the sensitivity and the threshold of the stimuli on the body. The two aspects of the stimuli produce a form of sensation referred to as somatosensation and include thermoception, mechanoreception, nociception and proprioception. Such mechanism provides information on intensity, timing, and location (Lundy-Ekman, 2013). Therefore, interpretation of sensory information is sped up or slowed by stimuli intensity as well as the body’s level of sensitivity.
Reference
Lundy-Ekman, L. (2013). Neuroscience: Fundamentals for rehabilitation. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier.