Spinal Cord: Decending Tracts

Question 1

Corticospinal Tract (anterior)

Answer 1

Pyramidal Motor Tract

• (ipsilateral) voluntary discrete and skilled movements

Question 2

Corticospinal Tract (Lateral)

Answer 2

Pyramidal Motor Tract

• (contralateral) voluntary fine movements

Question 3

What can damage to the corticospinal tract cause?

Answer 3

• + Babinski’s Sign
• Absent (superficial): abdominal signs and cremasteric reflex
• loss of fine motor or skilled voluntary movement

Question 4

Reticulospinal Tract

Answer 4

Extrapyramidal

• (facilitation or inhibition) of voluntary and reflex activity via influence on alpha and gamma motor neurons

Question 5

Rubrospinal Tract

Answer 5

Extrapyramidal

• motor input of gross postural tone
• Facilitates activity of flexors muscles and inhibits activity of extensor muscles

Question 6

Tectospinal Tract

Answer 6

Extrapyramidal Tract

• Contralateral postural muscles tone associated with auditory and visual stimuli

AKA: Techno-Spinal Tract

Question 7

Vestibulospinal tract

Answer 7

Extrapyramidal

• ipsilateral gross postural adjustments subsequent to head movements
• facilitates activity of extensor muscles, inhibits activity of flexor muscles

Question 8

What can damage to the extrapyramidal tracts cause?

Answer 8

Paralysis
Hypertonicity
Exaggerated DTRs
Clasp-Knife Response