Pathways Flashcards
Spinocerebellar
Travels towards CNS
Enters Dorsal root
Synapses in dorsal grey horn upon entry
ascends in an anterolateral white column
ascends to the level of the cerebellum
synapses in cerebellar hemispheres
REMAINS IPSILATERAL
Dorsal Column
Travels towards CNS
Enters dorsal root
Ascends dorsal column
Synapses in nuclei of medulla
DECUSSATES in medulla oblongata
Ascends to thalamic nuclei via medial leminisuc
Synapses in thalamus
Travels from thalamus to post central gyrus
Spinotectal
Travels towards CNS
Enters dorsal root
Synapses upon entry into the dorsal root
CROSSES OVER MIDLINE
Ascends in anterolateral white columns
Synapses in the superior colliculus of the midbrain
Spinothalamic
Travels towards CNS
Enters dorsal root
Synapses upon entry into dorsal root
DECUSSATES at level of entry
Ascends via anterolateral white columns
Synapses in thalamus
Travels from thalamus to post-central gyrus
synapses in primary somatosensory cortex
spino-olivary pathway
Enters dorsal root
Synapses upon entry
CROSSES over midline
Ascends in anterolateral column
Synapse in inferior olivary nucleus
CROSSES over midline
Enters cerebellum
Synapses in cerebellum
spinorectiular
Enters dorsal root
synapses upon entry
REMAINS IPSILATERAL
Ascends anterolateral white column
Synapses in the medulla and midbrain
Spinomesencephalic
Enters dorsal root
Synapses upon entry
REMANS IPSILATERAL
Ascends anterolateral while column
Synapses in midbrain’s periaqueductal gray matter (PAG)
Corticospinal
Neuron 1: UMN originates in the primary motor cortex (pre-central gyrus)
Descends via large white matter tract within the diencephalon
DESCUSSATES at medulla oblongata
Travels in anterolateral column
Synapses in anterior grey horn
Neuron 2: LMN
Exits cord via ventral root of spinal nerve
Travels via peripheral spinal nerve
Reaches target = skeletal muscle
Rubrospinal Tract
Originates from the red nucleus in the midbrain
CROSSES the midline
Descends through brainstem
Travels in anteriolateral white column
Terminates by synapsing on lower motor neurons within the grey matter of ANTERIOR grey horn
Tectospinal Tract
Begins in tectum of midbrain
CROSSES soon after origin
Descends through brainstem to the anterior column of the spinal cord
Terminates in the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord
Reticulospinal Tract - Pontine
Begins in the reticular formation of the pons
remains UNCROSSED
Descends the anterior column
influences reflexes and voluntary movements
Reticulospinal Tract - Medullary
Begins in the reticular formation of the medulla
Has both CROSSED and UNCROSSED fibres
Descends lateral column
Influences reflexes and voluntary movements
Lateral Vestibulospinal Tract
Begins at the lateral vestibular nucleus (in the medulla) CN III
Fibres do NOT CROSS
Descend anterior column of the spinal cord
The function of this tract is to regulate muscle tone in response to movements of the head, it plays a role in balance and equilibrium
