Descending Pathways

Question 1

Reticulospinal tracts

The lateral reticulospinal tract arises from the ______ and descends _______ to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord, mediating inhibition upon the spinal reflexes, mainly of ______; the medial reticulospinal tract arises from the ____ and descends mainly _______ to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord and facilitates ______ reflexes.

Answer 1

Reticulospinal tracts

The lateral reticulospinal tract arises from the MEDULLA and descends BILATERALLY to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord, mediating inhibition upon the spinal reflexes, mainly of EXTENSORS; the medial reticulospinal tract arises from the PONS and descends mainly IPSILATERALLY to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord and facilitates
EXTENSOR reflexes.

Question 2

Vestibulospinal tracts

The lateral vestibulospinal tract arises from the _______ ___________nucleus and descends _______ to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord, mediating powerful excitation of the _______ motor neurons; the medial vestibulospinal tract arises from the _______ _________ nucleus and descends mainly to the _______ levels of the spinal cord, mediating _____ reflexes of the _____ and ______.

Answer 2

Vestibulospinal tracts

The lateral vestibulospinal tract arises from the LATERAL VESTIBULAR nucleus and descends IPSILATERALLY to the cervical and lumbar levels of the spinal cord, mediating powerful EXCITATION of the EXTENSOR motor
neurons; the medial vestibulospinal tract arises from the MEDIAL VESTIBULAR NUCLEUS and descends mainly to the CERVICAL levels of the spinal cord, mediating POSTURAL reflexes of the HEAD and NECK.