- 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