DESCENDING TRACT (Dr. Soe lwin + Dr.

Tahmida)

1. CORTICOSPINAL TRACT

LATERAL CORTICOSPINAL TRACT ANTERIOR CORTICOSPINAL TRACT

ORIGIN Large Betz cell in precentral gyrus(PMC) Large Betz cell in precentral gyrus(PMC)
PATHWAY Cerebrum: Cerebrum:
Area 4,6,3,2,1corona radiata post. limb of Area 4,6,3,2,1corona radiate post. limb of
Internal capsule Internal capsule
Brainstem: Brainstem:
M.Brain (crus cerebri)Pons(basilar part)Medulla M.Brain (crus cerebri)Pons(basilar part)Medulla
(pyramid decussation) (uncrossed pyramidal tract)
Spinal Cord: Spinal Cord:
Descend in lateral white column Descend in ventral white column
Terminate: Contralateral Ventral horn cell of S.C Decussate near termination
Terminate: Contralateral Ventral horn cell of S.C
FUNCTION 1. Voluntary, discrete, skilled movement 1. Voluntary, discrete, skilled movement
(esp: distal part of limb) (esp: distal part of limb)

1.1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CORTICOSPINAL & CORTICOBULBAR NUCLEAR TRACT

CORTICOSPINAL NUCLEAR TRACT CORTICOBULBAR NUCLEAR TRACT

Descend contralaterally
Passes trough post.limb of Internal capsule
In crus cerebri, located in middle 3/5 (lateral)
Terminate at ventral horn of spinal cord
#Exception in corticobulbar:
Descend bilaterally
Passes trough genu in Internal capsule
In crus cerebri, located in middle 3/5 (more medial)
Terminate in brainstem motor nuc. of cranial nerves

1) Receiving from contralateral only:

I. Facial nerve(vii nerve nuclear)-Lower part of face
II. Accessory nerve(xi nerve nuclear)-Trapezius muscle
III. Hypoglossal nerve(xii nerve nuclear)-Genioglossus muscle(muscle of tongue)
2) Ipsilateral only:
I. Accessory nerve nuclear(xi nerve)-Steromastoid muscle
 EXTRAPYRIMIDAL TRACT

RUBROSPINAL TECTOSPINAL VESTIBULOSPINAL RETICULOSPINAL

Lat.vest.spinal Medial vest.spinal Medial retclspinal Lat. reticulospinal

ORIGIN Red nucleus(M.Brain) Sup. Colliculus of Lateral vestibular Medial vestibular Pontine reticular Medullary reticular
At level of sup.colliculus M.Brain nucleus nucleus formation. formation
Pathway -Afferent from motor - Axons cross in dorsal - Axons descend in - Axons desend in - Descend to the - Descend up to
cortex & cerebellum tegmental decussation ventral white column ventral white cervical segments thoracic segments
-Axon of the neuron -Descend through the of S.C column of S.C only. of S.C
cross to opposite site at brainstem close to the (as a part of medial -Lies in the -Lies in the
longitudinal fasciculus)
same level medial longitudinal anterior white anterolateral
-Descend as rubrospinal fasciculus. column of SC white column of
tract in lateral white -Axons descend in -Mostly uncrossed S.C
column in S.C ventral white column of fibers -Axons descend in
S.C -Axons descend in white column of
ventral white S.C on both sides
column of S.C (both crossed &uncrossed)

TERMINATE Contralateral ventral Contralateral ventral
horn cell of S.C horn cells of S.C
(upper cervical segments of SC by
synapsing with the internuncial
neurons)
FUNCTION -Facilitate flexor muscle - Mediates reflex
-Represent a route postural movements in
which cerebral cortex & response to visual
cerebellum can stimuli
influence motor actvty
Ipsilateral ventral Ipsilateral ventral Ipsilateral ventral Ipsilateral &
horn cells of S.C horn cells of S.C horn cells of S.C contralateral
ventral horn cells
of S.C
-Facilitate extensor -Coordinate -Control of reflex activity & muscle tone
motor neurones to movement of eye & by facilitate or inhibit the activity of the
maintain posture head alpha and gamma motor neuron in the
anterior gray column.
-Descending ANS fibers are concerned
with the control of visceral activity.
Lateral Corticospinal Tract Ventral Corticospinal Tract

Rubrospinal Tract Tectospinal Tract Vestibulorspinal Tract Reticulospinal Tract