Spinal tracts Flashcards
what info does the dorsal column medial lemniscus tract (DCML) carry
afferent
mechanoreceptors
Ia, Ib, II, Ab afferents
what info does the ventral spinothalamic tract (VST) carry
afferent
pain and temp info
A theta and C afferents
what info does the ventral corticospinal tract (VCST) carry
efferent
motor commands for proximal msucles (trunk and core)
what info does the lateral corticospinal tract (LCST) carry
efferent
motor commands for distal muscles (extremities)
where does the LCST decussate
caudal medulla
where does the VCST decussate
it doesn’t
travels ipsilaterally, innervates bilaterally
where does the VST decussate
at the level of entry to the spine
where does DCML decussate
caudal medulla
what is the path of the VST
- travel in through dorsal root
- decussates at level of entry into the spine
- travels up spinothalamic tract
- synapses at the thalamus
- travels into internal capsule
- projects into S1
where are the synapses in VST
- at level of entry into the spine (grey matter)
- thalamus
where do the different orders of neurons go in the VST
1st order = from receptor to level of entry to the spine
2nd order = from level of entry to the thalamus
3rd order = from thalamus to S1
where are the synapses in DCML
- caudal medulla
- thalamus
where do the different orders of neurons travel in DCML
1st order = receptor to the caudal medulla (dorsal column)
2nd order = caudal medulla to thalamus (medial lemniscus)
3rd order = thalamus to S1 (internal capsule)
are spinal tracts grey matter or white matter
all tracts are white matter (myelinated)
what happens if there is damage to grey matter but the white matter remains intact
there is loss at the level of the spine
can still feel and move above and below that area because white matter tracts are still intact
