Spinal Tracts Flashcards
What are the two ascending (sensory) tracts?
Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus
Spinothalamic Tract
What modalities does the DCML tract carry?
Conscious proprioception
Vibration Sense
Fine Touch
What modalities does the spinothalamic tract carry?
Pain
Temperature
Deep Pressure
What is the DCML split into?
Fasciculus cuneatus
Fasciculus gracilis
What does the fasciculus cuneatus supply?
Upper limb
What does the fasciculus gracilis supply?
Lower limb
Describe the course of the DCML
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
Describe the course of the spinothalamic tract
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
What are the five descending (motor) tracts?
Corticospinal Reticulospinal Vestibulospinal Tectospinal Rubrospinal
What modality does the corticospinal tract carry?
Fine precise movement
What is the corticospinal tract split into?
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
Where does the lateral corticospinal tract decussate?
The medulla
What is the reticulospinal tract split into?
Lateral and medial tracts
What modality does the medial reticulospinal tract carry?
Facilitates voluntary movements
Increases tone
What modality does the lateral reticulospinal tract carry?
Inhibits voluntary movements
Decreases tone