Ascending and Descending Spinal Tracts Flashcards
Site of origin of lateral corticospinal tract
Primary motor cortex 4, 6 - pyramidal cells
Site of decussation of lateral corticospinal tract
Pyramidal decussation at cervicomedullary junction
Where does the lateral corticospinal tract terminate
Ventral horn motor neurons / entire cord - mostly enlargments of c & l
Function of lateral corticospinal tract
Movement of contralateral limbs, particularly digits
Site of origin of rubrospinal tract
Red nucleus of midbrain tegmentum
Site of decussation of rubrospinal tract
Ventral tegmental decussation in midbrain (tectum)
Where does the rubrospinal tract terminate
Ventral horn of Cervical cord
Function of rubrospinal tract
Movement of contralateral limbs - flexors
Site of origin of anterior corticospinal tract
Primary motor cortex
Site of decussation of anterior corticospinal tract
Does not decussate
Where does the anterior cortispinal tract terminate
Ventral horn motor neurons / Cervical and thoracic cord
Function of anterior corticospinal tract
Control of axial muscles
Site of origin of medial vestibulospinal tract
Medial and inferior vestibular nuclei
Site of decussation of medial vestibulospinal tract
Does not decussate
Where does the vestibulospinal tract terminate
Interneurons at Cervical and thoracic cord
Function of the medial vestibulospinal tract
Positioning of head and neck posture
Site of origin of lateral VST
Lateral vestibular nuclei
Site of decussation of lateral VST
Does not decussate
Where does the lateral VST terminate
Interneurons at ventral horn Entire cord
Function of the lateral VST
Balance and posture of extensor muscles
Site of origin of reticulospinal tract
Medial -Pontine nucleus and
Lateral or medullary - gigantocellular nucleus in medullary reticular formation
Site of decussation of reticulospinal tract
Does not decussate, have their own medial and lateral reticulospinal tracts
Where does the reticulospinal tract terminate
Interneurons and motor neurons of Entire cord
Function of reticulospinal tract
Posture and voluntary movement reflex activity
Pontine - extensor
Medullary - flexor
Site of origin of tectospinal tract
Superior colliculus of midbrain
Site of decussation of tectospinal tract
Dorsal tegmental decussation in midbrain soon after origin (tectum)
Where does the tectospinal tract terminate
Interneurons of Upper Cervical cord ^^
Function of the tectospinal tract
Coordination of head and eye movements
Weakness of one side of body
Paresis
No movement of one side of body
Plegia
No movement of legs
Paralysis