Ascending and Descending

Question 1

What info uses the dorsal column?

Answer 1

Sensory info for fine touch, proprioception and vibration

Question 2

What are the two parts to the dorsal column?

Answer 2

Lateral = arms = fasciculus cuneatus
Medial = legs = fasciculus gracilis

Question 3

Describe the path of vibration from arm

Answer 3

Enters spinal cord and ascends at ipsilateral side in the fasciculus cuneatus part of the dorsal column.
Crosses over at the Medulla.
Synapses at the medial lemniscus.
Travels to thalamus
Travels to primary sensory cortex via internal capsule.

Question 4

What does the anterolateral tract contain?

Answer 4

Sensory info for pain, temperature and pressure

Question 5

What does the spinothalamic tract contain?

Answer 5

Sensory info for pain, temperature and pressure

Question 6

Describe the path of pain

Answer 6

Pain enters spinal cord and crosses over
Travels to thalamus without stopping at medulla
Goes to primary sensory cortex via internal capsule

Question 7

Name the pyramidal descending tract

Answer 7

Corticospinal

Question 8

What tract coordinates fine movements?

Answer 8

Corticospinal

Question 9

Describe the path of fine movements

Answer 9

Motor cortex to brain stem via internal capsule
Descending axons bunch together to make anterior pyramids at medulla
2/3rds of the way down medulla 80% of neurones cross to make lateral tract
The other 1/3rd continue down to make anterior tract

Question 10

Name the extrapyramidal tracts

Answer 10

Tectospinal, Vestibulospinal, Reticulospinal

Question 11

What does tectospinal tract contain?

Answer 11

Movements in response to sound stimulus

Only in cervical region

Question 12

What does vestibulospinal contain?

Answer 12

Coordinates antigravity muscles in response to info from bony labyrinth in ear

Question 13

What does reticulospinal contain?

Answer 13

Consciousness, breathing, muscle tone