Spinal tracts

Question 1

What do UMNs do?

Answer 1

Talk to LMNs

Question 2

What do LMNs do?

Answer 2

Talk to skeletal muscles

Question 3

Where do UMNs originate?

Answer 3

In grey matter of cerebral cortex & brainstem

Question 4

Where do LMNs originate?

Answer 4

Have their soma’s in brainstem or the spinal cord

Question 5

What are the 5 features of a UMN disorder?

Answer 5

1. Hypertonia (stiffness)
2. Hyperreflexia (brisk reflexes)
3. +ve Babinski signs (abnormal extensor plantar response)
4. Spactic weakness
5. Little muscle atrophy

Question 6

What are the 5 features of a LMN disorder?

Answer 6

1. Hypotonia
2. Hyporeflexia
3. Fasciculations (twitching under the skin)
4. Flaccid weakness (floppy)
5. Muscle atrophy

Question 7

What information does the DCML (dorsal column-medial lemniscus) carry? (5)

Answer 7

Proprioception
Discriminative (two-point) touch
Fine touch
Pressure
Vibration

Question 8

Where does the DCML start?

Answer 8

Sensory organ

Question 9

Where does the DCML end?

Answer 9

Somatosensory cortex

Question 10

Where does the DCML decussate?

Answer 10

Medulla

Question 11

How does the DCML from the lower body (T6 and below) travel through the medulla?

Answer 11

Fasciculus gracilis (MEDIAL)
Remember: Ground --> Gracilis

Question 12

How does the DCML from the upper body (T6 and above) travel through the medulla?

Answer 12

Fasciculus cuneatus (LATERAL)

Question 13

What information does the STT (spinothalamic tract) carry? (2)

Answer 13

Lateral: pain & temperature

Question 14

Where does the STT start? (2)

Answer 14

Nocioceptors

Thermoreceptors

Question 15

Where does the STT end?

Answer 15

Thalamus (pain reaches consciousness here)

Question 16

Where does the STT decussate?

Answer 16

At level of entry of spinal cord/ up to 2 levels above

Question 17

What information does the SCT (spinocerebellar tract) carry? (2)

Answer 17

Balance

Coordination

Question 18

Where does the SCT start? (2)

Answer 18

Golgi organs

Muscle spindles

Question 19

Where does the SCT end?

Answer 19

Cerebellum

Question 20

Where does the SCT decussate?

Answer 20

Dorsal DON’T

Ventral DOUBLE CROSS

Question 21

What information does the lateral CST (corticospinal tract) carry?

Answer 21

Motor (to limbs)

Question 22

Where does the lateral CST start?

Answer 22

Motor cortex

Question 23

Where does the lateral CST end?

Answer 23

motor neurons/ NMJ

Question 24

Where does the lateral CST decussate?

Answer 24

Medulla

Question 25

What information does the anterior CST carry?

Answer 25

Motor (to head & trunk)

Question 26

Where does the anterior CST start?

Answer 26

Motor cortex

Question 27

Where does the anterior CST end?

Answer 27

Motor neurons/ NMJ

Question 28

Where does the anteior CST decussate?

Answer 28

At level of exit on spinal cord

Question 29

What information does the RST (rubrospinal tract) carry?

Answer 29

Rudimentary motor function

Question 30

Where does the RST start?

Answer 30

Red nucleus (midbrain)

Question 31

Where does the RST end?

Answer 31

Motor neurons/ NMJ

Question 32

Where does the RST decussate?

Answer 32

Midbrain

Question 33

What information does the TST (tectospinal tract) carry?

Answer 33

Reflex head/eye responses to visual/auditory stimuli

Question 34

Wherw does the TST start?

Answer 34

Tectum (midbrain) [visual: superior colliculi] [auditory: inferior colliculi]

Question 35

Where does the TST end?

Answer 35

Motor neurons/ NMJ

Question 36

Where does the TST decussate?

Answer 36

Midbrain

Question 37

What ipsilateral deficit will a person with Brown-Sequard syndrome present with?

Answer 37

Below the lesion/injury:
Loss of motor function
Loss of pressure, discriminative two-point touch and proprioception

Question 38

What contralateral deficit will a person with Brown-Sequard syndrome present with?

Answer 38

Below the lesion/injury:

Loss of pain + temperature