Descending Tracts

Question 1

Corticospinal tract (anterior)

Answer 1

pyramidal motor tract responsible for ipsilateral voluntary, discrete, and skilled movements

Question 2

Corticospinal tract (lateral)

Answer 2

pyramidal motor tract responsible for contralateral voluntary fine movement

Question 3

What happens with damage to the corticospinal tract?

Answer 3

+ Babinski sign, absent superficial abdominal reflexes and cremasteric reflex, and loss of fine motor or skilled voluntary movementq

Question 4

Reticulospinal tract

Answer 4

extrapyramidal motor tract responsible for facilitation or inhibition of voluntary and reflex activity through influence on alpha and gamma motor neurons

Question 5

Rubrospinal tract

Answer 5

extrapyramidal motor tract responsible for motor input of gross postural tone, facilitating activity of flexor muscles, and inhibiting activity of extensor muscles

Question 6

Tectospinal tract

Answer 6

extrapyramidal motor tract responsible for contralateral postural muscle tone associate with auditory and visual stimuli

Question 7

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer 7

extrapyramidal motor tract responsible for ipsilateral gross postural adjustments subsequent to head movements, facilitating activity of extensor muscles, and inhibiting activity of flexor muscles