Spinal Cord (Grey Matter)

Question 1

1. Rubrospinal vs spinothalamic tract?

Answer 1

Rubrospinal tract (descending)

The rubrospinal tract is primarily involved in motor control, specifically in the coordination of movement and posture. It originates in the red nucleus of the midbrain and descends to the spinal cord, where it influences motor neurons.

Spinothalmic (ascending)
On the other hand, the spinothalamic tract is involved in sensory functions, particularly in the transmission of pain and temperature sensations from the body to the brain. It carries sensory information from the spinal cord to the thalamus in the brain.

So, while the rubrospinal tract is primarily motor, the spinothalamic tract is primarily sensory.