Spinal Tracts

Question 1

What are the two ascending (sensory) tracts?

Answer 1

Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus

Spinothalamic Tract

Question 2

What modalities does the DCML tract carry?

Answer 2

Conscious proprioception
Vibration Sense
Fine Touch

Question 3

What modalities does the spinothalamic tract carry?

Answer 3

Pain
Temperature
Deep Pressure

Question 4

What is the DCML split into?

Answer 4

Fasciculus cuneatus

Fasciculus gracilis

Question 5

What does the fasciculus cuneatus supply?

Answer 5

Upper limb

Question 6

What does the fasciculus gracilis supply?

Answer 6

Lower limb

Question 7

Describe the course of the DCML

Answer 7

Enters the spinal cord, travels up the ipsilateral side
Fibres decussate in the medulla
Second order neurone travels up as far as the VP thalamus
Third order neurone travels to the sensory cortex

Question 8

Describe the course of the spinothalamic tract

Answer 8

Enters the spinal cord, fibres immediately decussate
Second order neurone travels up the contralateral side to the VP thalamus
Third order neurone travels to the sensory cortex

Question 9

What are the five descending (motor) tracts?

Answer 9

Corticospinal 
Reticulospinal 
Vestibulospinal 
Tectospinal 
Rubrospinal

Question 10

What modality does the corticospinal tract carry?

Answer 10

Fine precise movement

Question 11

What is the corticospinal tract split into?

Answer 11

Lateral and anterior
Lateral fibres are formed of fibres which decussate in the medulla
Anterior fibres are formed of fibres which decussate in the spinal cord

Question 12

Where does the lateral corticospinal tract decussate?

Answer 12

The medulla

Question 13

What is the reticulospinal tract split into?

Answer 13

Lateral and medial tracts

Question 14

What modality does the medial reticulospinal tract carry?

Answer 14

Facilitates voluntary movements

Increases tone

Question 15

What modality does the lateral reticulospinal tract carry?

Answer 15

Inhibits voluntary movements

Decreases tone

Question 16

Describe the course of the medial reticulospinal tract

Answer 16

Cell bodies are found in the pons

Descend on ipsilateral side and decussate a the spinal level

Question 17

Describe the course of the lateral reticulospinal tract

Answer 17

Cell bodies are found in the medulla

Descend bilaterally and decussate at the spinal level

Question 18

What modality does the vestibulospinal tract carry?

Answer 18

Innervates the anti-gravity muscles

Question 19

What is the vestibulospinal tract split into?

What is the distinction between the two

Answer 19

Lateral - supply to the lumbar spinal cord, cell bodies in pons

Medial - supply to the cervical spinal cord, cell bodies in medulla

Question 20

What modality does the tectospinal tract carry?

Answer 20

Mediates head and neck reflex due to visual stimuli

Question 21

Describe the course of the tectospinal tract

Answer 21

Fibres decussate quickly in the midbrain

Descend on contralateral side to cervical level

Question 22

What modality does the rubrospinal tract carry?

Answer 22

Control over limb flexor muscle

Question 23

Describe the course of the rubrospinal tract

Answer 23

Cell bodies found in the red nucleus
Axons decussate in the midbrain
Descend on contralateral side