Ascending & Descending Tracts

Question 1

Ascending Tracts and Role (3)

Answer 1

Dorsal column:
Cuneatus - sends information from the upper limb and upper chest.
Gracilis - sends information from the trunk and lower limb

Spinothalamic:
Lateral - pain and temperature
Anterior - touch

Spinocerebellar:
Proprioceptive information to cerebellar

Question 2

Descending Tracts and Role (5)

Answer 2

Corticospinal:
Lateral - Controls the extremities
Anterior - Controls the axial skeleton

Vestibulospinal:
Integration of the head, neck, extremities and axial skeleton.

Tectospinal:
- Muscle response to visual stimuli

Reticulospinal:
Lateral - Facilitates the flexor reflexes and inhibits extensor reflexes
Medial - Opposite

Rubrospinal:
Control of fine movements

Question 3

Which tract is the corticospinal and what does it do?

Answer 3

Corticospinal - DEscending tract
Lateral - Controls the extremities
Anterior - Controls the axial skeleton

Question 4

Which tract is the rubrospinal and what does it do?

Answer 4

Rubrospinal - DEscending tract

Control of fine movements

Question 5

Which tract is the tectospinal and what does it do?

Answer 5

Tectospinal - DEscending

- Muscle response to visual stimuli

Question 6

What tract is the reticulospinal and what does it do?

Answer 6

Reticulospinal - DEscending
Lateral - Facilitates the flexor reflexes and inhibits extensor reflexes
Medial - Opposite

Question 7

What tract is the vestibulospinal and what does it do?

Answer 7

Vestibulospinal:

Integration of the head, neck, extremities and axial skeleton.

Question 8

What tract is the spinocerebellar and what does it do?

Answer 8

Spinocerebellar - Ascending

Proprioceptive information to cerebellar

Question 9

What tract is the dorsal column and what does it do?

Answer 9

Dorsal column - Ascending
Cuneatus - sends information from the upper limb and upper chest.
Gracilis - sends information from the trunk and lower limb

Question 10

What tract is the spinothalamic and what does it do?

Answer 10

Spinothalamic - Ascending
Lateral - pain and temperature
Anterior - touch