descending tracts

Question 1

lateral corticospinal tract

Answer 1

Movement of contralateral limbs

Primary motor cortex (area 4), secondary motor cortex (area 6), parietal lobe (areas 3, 1, and 2)

Pyramidal decussation, at the cervicomedullary junction.

Entire cord (predominantly at cervical and lumbosacral enlargements)

Lateral White Column;
Posterolateral

Question 2

anterior corticospinal tract

Answer 2

Control of bilateral axial and girdle muscles

Primary motor cortex (area 4), secondary motor cortex (area 6), parietal lobe (areas 3, 1, and 2)

uncrossed

Cervical and Upper Thoracic Cord

Anterior White Column
Anteromedial

Question 3

Rubrospinal tract

Answer 3

Facilitate activities of flexor muscles, inhibits activity of extensor muscles

Red nucleus at the tegmentum of midbrain at the level of superior colliculus

Ventral tegmental decussation, in the midbrain

Upper cervical segments of Cervical Cord

Lateral White Column;
Ventral to Lateral Corticospinal tract

Question 4

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer 4

Facilitate activities of extensor muscles, inhibits activity of flexors, and concerned with the postural activity (balance)

Vestibular Nuclei

uncrossed

Cervical and Upper Thoracic Cord

Anterior White Column;
Lateral to reticulospinal Tract

Question 5

Reticulospinal Tract

Answer 5

Inhibit activity of a and y motor neurons in anterior horns thereby influencing reflex activity.
Provide pathways which hypothalamus control sympathetic and sacral parasympathetic outflow.

Reticular Formation

Some cross at various level

Entire cord

Anterior White Column;
Medial to Vestibulospinal tract

Question 6

Tectospinal Tract

Answer 6

Reflex postural movements in response to visual stimuli

Superior colliculus of midbrain

Dorsal tegmental decussation, in the midbrain

Cervical Cord (anterior horn)

Anterior White column;
Medial to Vestibulospinal tract