Field of Medicine

Long Ascending Tracts

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Samir Date : 2/ 10 /2023

Ass. Prof of Anatomy-KSIU
 INTENDED LEARNING OBJECTIVES (ILO)

By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

1.Define the four long ascending tracts carrying the different
sensations.
2.Describe the three order chain of each of which.
3.Predict the effects of lesion of these tracts.
4.List the short ascending tracts and their functions.
2
 Sensory pathways
4 Long ascending tracts (reaching 4 Short ascending tracts (not
the cerebral cortex) reaching the cerebral cortex)
• Ant. spino-thalamic tract (for crude • Spino-cerebellar tract
touch & pressure)
• Spino-tectal tract
• Lat. spino-thalamic tract (for pain &
temperature) • Spino-reticular tract
• Gracile tract (for fine touch & • Spino-olivary tract
conscious proprioception from lower
½ of trunk & LL)
• Cuneate tract (for fine touch &
conscious proprioception from
upper ½ of trunk & UL)
 4 Long ascending tracts
(reaching the cerebral cortex)
• Ant. spino-thalamic tract (for crude touch & pressure)
• Lat. spino-thalamic tract (for pain & temperature)
• Gracile tract (for fine touch & conscious proprioception from
lower ½ of trunk & LL)
• Cuneate tract (for fine touch & conscious proprioception
from upper ½ of trunk & UL)
In the sensory pathways, sensations are carried
from receptors to cerebral cortex by 3 neurons:
Dorsal column pathway Spinothalamic tract

The
3 Decussation

Neurons Dorsal column Spinothalamic trac

Chain
O < Primary afferent neuron

• < Second-order neuron

t < Thalamocortical neuron Decussation

 Organization of Sensory Pathways

• Cell of the Dorsal Root Ganglion,

First — Order • Carries sensation by its peripheral process.
Neuron • Its central processes to the spinal cord.
Dorsal column pathway Spinothalamic tract

RECEPTOR

AFFERENT/DORSAL/
SENSORY ROOT

Bram stem
Decussation

Dorsal co umn Spinothalamic tract

© < Primary afferent neuron

SPINAL NERVE • K. Second-order neuron
(MIXED)
• -K. Thalamocortical neuron
 > Cell in spinal cord or medulla oblongata
Second-Order > Axon always decussates to the opposite side
Neuron > Ascends in the brainstem as Lemniscus.
> To end in the thalamus.

thalamus

Second Neuron
O < Primary afferent neuron

• K. Second-order neuron
Thalamocortical neuron
Decussation
 Organization of Sensory Pathways
> Cells in the Thalamus (NVPL) ()Nc Ventralis Postero-Lat.)
Third-order > Axon ascends upward.
Neuron > Pass through internal capsule
> Through corona radiata
> Reach sensory area of cerebral cortex.
Somato-sensory area
Sorcery
codex
cerebral
lowrknb
cortex

Somato-
WAWAVAW/A*
Corona Radiata
sensory area Corona Radiata
^-\ \ l— internal capsule
r\ \ w \ v/i
Thalamus internal capsule
internal capstie
Cerebral hemisphere
Thalamus
 Fine touch & Proprioception Pathway = Dorsal
column tracts
G C D.R.G.
• 1 ORDER NEURON:
ST

Dorsal Root Ganglion (D.R.G.):

are pseudo-unipolar cells whereas their
peripheral processes carry fine touch &
conscious proprioception from the
receptors.
D.R.G.
& their Central processes: enter the
dorsal column:
a. Fibers from the lower ½ of the body
& LL pass med. in the dorsal column
forming the Gracile tract.
b. Fibers from the upper ½ of the body
& UL pass lat. in the dorsal column,
forming the Cuneate tract.
 Fine touch & Proprioception Pathway = Dorsal
column tracts
• 2ND ORDER NEURON:
Axons of Gracile & Cuneate nuclei of
the medulla oblongata
a. Cross to the opposite side forming
with the contralat. fibers the
Sensory Decussation. C, T, L, S
c. Ascend in the brain stem close to Medial Lemniscus
midline forming the Medial
Lemniscus Sensory decussation

d. Lamination: Cervical fibers are lat.

& Sacral fibers are med. Gracile & Cuneate nuclei
e. Terminate in: (NVPL) Nucleus
Ventralis Postero-Lat. of Thalamus.
Fine touch & Proprioception Pathway = Dorsal
column tracts
Sensory cortex
• 3 ORDER NEURON:
RD

Axons of NVPL
a. Pass in sensory radiation in the Corona radiata
post. limb of internal capsule.
b. Diverge in the corona radiata.
c. Terminate in sensory area of
post. Limb of int.
the cerebral cortex L capsule
C T
NVPL
Dorsal Column Tracts
Third order neuron----Thalamus

Second order neuron----Gracile & Cuneate

First order neuron-----DRG

 Fine touch & Proprioception Pathway = Dorsal
column tract
• N.B.:
i. Some C. fibers ascend in the
cuneate tract but leave it to
terminate in the accessory
cuneate nucleus in medulla.
C, T, L, S
ii. Its axons leave the medulla as
the cuneo-cerebellar tract Medial Lemniscus
→terminate in the cerebellum. e l l ar t ract
Sensory decussation
une o - cereb
C
iii. These fibers carry unconscious
Accessory cuneate nc.
proprioception from the UL.
Gracile & Cuneate nuclei
 Crude touch & Pressure Pathway =
Ant. spino-thalamic tract
• 1ST ORDER NEURON:
Dorsal Root Ganglion (D.R.G.): D.R.G.

1- Cells: are pseudo-unipolar

2- Peripheral processes:
Carry crude touch & pressure from the
receptors. N.P
3- Central processes:
Enter the spinal cord to terminate in
Nc Proprius (NP) of the corresponding
segment.
 Crude touch & Pressure Pathway =
Ant. spino-thalamic tract
• 2ND ORDER NEURON: S,L,T,C
Axons of N.P
a. Cross to the opposite side.
b. Ascend in the ANT. column as the
ANT. spino-thalamic tract.
c. Ascend in the brain stem close to
N.P.
joins the Spinal Lemniscus)
d. Lamination: Cervical fibers are med. &
Sacral fibers are lat. Ant.

e. Terminate in: (NVPL) Nucleus Ventralis

Postero-Lat. of Thalamus.
 Crude touch & Pressure Pathway =
Ant. spino-thalamic tract
Sensory cortex
• 3 ORDER NEURON:
RD

Axons of NVPL
a. Pass in sensory radiation in the Corona radiata
post. limb of internal capsule.
b. Diverge in the corona radiata.
c. Terminate in sensory area of
post. Limb of int.
the cerebral cortex L capsule
C T
NVPL.
Pathway of crude touch&pressure

Third order neuron:

Thalamus (VPLN)

Medial
lemniscus

NP

First order
DRG
 Pain & Temperature Pathway =
Lat. spino-thalamic tract
• 1ST ORDER NEURON:
Dorsal Root Ganglion (D.R.G.): D.R.G.
1- Cells: are pseudo-unipolar
2- Peripheral processes:
Carry pain & temp. from the receptors.
3- Central processes: S.G.R.
a. Enter the spinal cord
b. Substantia Gelatinosa of Rolandi (SGR)
of the corresponding segment.
 Pain & Temperature Pathway =
Lat. spino-thalamic tract
• 2ND ORDER NEURON: S.G.R. : S,L,T,C
Axons: of S.G.R.
a. Cross to the opposite side.
b. Ascend in the LAT. column as the LAT. spino-
thalamic tract.
c. Ascend in the brain stem as the Spinal
S.G.R.
Lemniscus) Lat.
d. Lamination: Cervical fibers are med. & Sacral
fibers are lat.
e. Terminate in: (NVPL) Nucleus Ventralis Postero-
Lat. of Thalamus.
 Pain & Temperature Pathway =
Lat. spino-thalamic tract
Sensory cortex
• 3 ORDER NEURON:
RD

Axons of NVPL
a. Pass in sensory radiation in the Corona radiata
post. limb of internal capsule.
b. Diverge in the corona radiata.
c. Terminate in sensory area of
post. Limb of int.
the cerebral cortex L capsule
C T
NVPL
Pathway of pain & temperature

Thalamus
(VPLN)

SGR
Spinal
lemniscus
 Lecture Quiz

The second order neuron of pathway of crude touch from the

body is the:
a. Dorsal root ganglion.
b. Main sensory nucleus.
c. Substania Gelatinosa of Rolandi.
d. Clarke’s nucleus.
e. PLVNT.

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 SUGGESTED TEXTBOOKS

1. Gray's Anatomy for Students-4th Edition

2. Atlas of human anatomy by Frank H. Netter, 6th Edition