Neuroanatomy Draw It To Know It

7. Spinal Cord 115

Flexors

Extensors

Distal Proximal

Medial

vestibulospinal tract

Anterior

corticospinal tract

Medial

reticulospinal

Lateral tract

vestibulospinal tract

Lateral

reticulospinal tract

Arms

Legs

Hypothalamospinal

tract

Lateral cortico-

spinal tract

Rubrospinal tract

Tectospinal tract

Rubrospinal

TRACT ORIGIN TERMINATION

Hypothalamospinal

Medial reticulospinal

Lateral reticulospinal

Tectospinal

Red nucleus Contralateral

Pontine reticular formation

Medullary reticular formation

Hypothalamus Ipsilateral

Superior colliculus Contralateral

Anterior corticospinal Motor cortices (mostly) Contralateral

FUNCTION

Proximal muscle activation

Autonomic function

Activates upper limb flexion

Neck movement - head turn

Activates limb extension

Inhibits limb extension

*Further details drawn elsewhere

*Lateral corticospinal -

innervate distal muscles

*Vestibulospinal -

activate axial &

proximal limb extensors

Ipsilateral (mostly)

Ipsilateral (mostly)

DRAWING 7-3 Descending Pathways