Ascending And Descending Tracts

Question 1

Fasciculus cuneatus (posterior or dorsal column)

Answer 1

• Sensory tract
• Neck, trunk, and UE proprioception
• Vibration
• 2-point discrimination
• Graphesthesia

Question 2

Fasciculus gracilis (posterior or dorsal)

Answer 2

• Sensory tract for trunk and LE proprioception
• 2-point discrimination
• Vibration
• Graphesthesia

Question 3

Spinocerebellar tract (dorsal)

Answer 3

• Sensory tract that ascends to the cerebellum
• IL subconscious proprioception
• Muscle tension
• Joint sense
• Posture of the trunk and LEs

Question 4

Spinocerebellar tract (ventral)

Answer 4

• Sensory tract that ascends to the cerebellum
• Some fibers cross with subsequent recrossing at the pons
• IL subconscious proprioception
• Muscle tension
• Joint sense
• Posture of trunk, UEs, and LEs

Question 5

Spinio-olivary tract

Answer 5

• Ascends to the cerebellum

- Relays info from cutaneous and proprioceptive organs

Question 6

Spinoretucular tract

Answer 6

• LOC

Question 7

Spinotectal tract

Answer 7

• Sensory tract
• Spinovisual reflexes
• Movement of eyes and head toward a stimulus

Question 8

Spinothalamic tract (anterior)

Answer 8

• Light touch

- Pressure

Question 9

Spinothalamic tract (lateral)

Answer 9

• Pain

- Temperature

Question 10

Corticospinal tract (anterior)

Answer 10

• Pyramidal motor tract

- IL voluntary, discrete and skilled movements

Question 11

Corticospinal tract (lateral)

Answer 11

• Pyramidal motor tract
• CL fine voluntary movement
• Damage results in + Babinski, absent superficial abdominal reflexes, and cremasteric reflex, and the loss of fine motor or skilled voluntary movement

Question 12

Reticulospinal tract

Answer 12

• Extrapyramidal motor tract

- Facilitation or inhibition of voluntary and reflex activity through the influence on alpha and gamma motor neurons

Question 13

Rubrospinal tract

Answer 13

• Extrapyramidal motor tract
• Gross postural tone
• Facilitating activity of flexors
• Inhibiting activity of extensors

Question 14

Tectospinal tract

Answer 14

• Extrapyramidal motor tract

- CL postural muscle tone associated with aud/vis stimuli

Question 15

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer 15

• Extrapyramidal motor tract
• IL gross postural adjustments subsequent to head movements
• Facilitating activity of extensors
• Inhibiting activity of flexors
• Damage results in paralysis, hypertonicity, exaggerated DTRs, and clasp-knife reflex